6/20/26 – The EPA has published a nationwide study of studies focused on quantifying the economic benefits of healthy watersheds. This 9-page PDF provides a high-level introduction to the EPA’s Healthy Watersheds Program.
The fact sheet also provides dozens of timely examples that support preserving 5,300 acres west of Kingwood instead of developing it.
The studies fall into six categories:
Lower water treatment costs
Reduced costs associated with flood protection and other natural hazards
Improving food supply through hunting and fishing
Promoting recreation and tourism
Quality of life and health benefits
Increased property values
Nationwide Scope, Wide Variety of Metrics
Scientists from Alaska to Florida and New England to Hawaii conducted the 35 studies cited in the fact sheet. They used a wide variety of metrics to estimate economic benefits. See several examples below.
In Iowa, riparian buffers for agricultural land reduced water treatment costs in the Raccoon River watershed by $2.63 million annually.
In Maine, forest conservation efforts contributed to such exceptional water quality in the Sebago Lake watershed that Portland Water District has avoided the need for a $150 million water treatment plant. They report a payback of $4.80 to $8.90 per dollar invested.
New York City saved an estimated $8-10 billion in costs to build a water treatment facility by preserving 140,000 acres of forests in the watershed that supplies residents with drinking water.
In Tampa, mangroves, salt marshes, and seagrasses provide flood-protection benefits valued at $31 million per year by preventing property damage from 100-year floods.
28,000 protected acres of greenway along the Meramec River reduce flood damage by an average of $31 million annually for residents downstream by promoting infiltration and reducing runoff rates.
In Middlebury, Vermont, protected wetlands and floodplains reduce flood damage to homes and businesses by an average of 54-78% per flood event by storing and slowly releasing floodwaters.
These studies are consistent with other studies I have reported. For instance, proximity to parks can increase home values by up to 20%. The parks also provide flood-reduction benefits.
Timely Lessons for Proposed Scarborough Development
The EPA publication provides timely lessons for the entire Lake Houston/Southern Montgomery County Area. A Dallas-based company named Scarborough has proposed developing 5,300 acres in floodplains and floodways west of Kingwood.
According to hydrologists, if Scarborough develops the land, it would be like “aiming a firehose at Humble and Kingwood.” But it doesn’t have to be that way.
You can help preserve this land, improve water quality in Lake Houston, reduce flooding, increase home values and provide healthy recreational opportunities.
If you haven’t already signed the petition at Change.org to block development of this floodplain property, please do so now. We’re closing in on 10,000 signatures. Both the Houston City Council and Harris County Commissioners Court have unanimously passed resolutions against developing the land.
Please help. Join thousands of your neighbors. Sign the petition now.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 6/20/2026
3217 Days since Hurricane Harvey
The thoughts expressed in this post represent opinions on matters of public concern and safety. They are protected by the First Amendment of the US Constitution and the Anti-SLAPP Statute of the Great State of Texas.
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/Ryko-Floodplains-Streams.jpg?fit=1100%2C723&ssl=17231100adminadmin2026-06-20 01:01:252026-06-20 18:16:38Economic Benefits of Healthy Watersheds
6/18/2026 – A new study published in the journal “Nature Water” on June 1, 2026 shows that wetland conservation is a potentially effective but undervalued strategy in managing growing flood risk. The authors, Jesse D. Gourevitch, Adam C. Gold & Helena M. Garcia found a statistical link between wetland loss and rising flood insurance claims since 1985.
Economic Value of Wetlands in Reducing Flood Losses
The estimated increase in flood insurance claims due to wetland loss totals $10.1 billion.
That’s equal to about 9% of insured riverine flood losses. And according to a blog post by the authors in the Environmental Defense Fund website, “The highest added costs were concentrated in the Houston metropolitan area, southeastern Louisiana, and coastal Florida.”
Scarborough wetlands between Spring Creek and San Jacinto West Fork, west of Kingwood. The study estimates that each acre of Scarborough wetlands reduces downstream flood losses by approximately $90,000.
The authors say that because the National Flood Insurance Program, or NFIP, covers only a fraction of total flood losses to homes, the full costs of wetland loss are likely even higher.
These numbers help quantify a value of land-use decisions for policy makers.
USGS shows hundreds of acres of wetlands on the Scarborough property between the West Fork and Spring Creek like those shown in the photograph above.
The authors caution that their study measures only one part of wetlands’ value: reducing insured riverine flood losses to residential properties.
However, they point out that wetlands also provide many other benefits. They include improving water quality, storing carbon, supporting wildlife habitat and creating recreational opportunities.
The study did not include many other categories of flood damage, such as losses to commercial or government property, business interruption, uninsured losses or flooding from coastal storm surge, etc. So, while the core estimate is significant, it is also conservative.
Local Interactive Map
The study also provides an interactive map that shows the value of wetlands in particular watersheds in terms of reducing downstream flood losses.
An acre of wetlands in the Bens Branch watershed, for instance, reduces downstream flood losses by $146,756 per acre.
Many of the remaining undeveloped tracts in the Lake Houston Area are flush with wetlands.
Under- and Unvalued Assets
Adam Gold, senior manager of coasts and watersheds science at EDF and co-author of the study, said, “Wetlands act like natural sponges during heavy rain, storing floodwater and slowing runoff before it moves downstream. Yet wetlands continue to disappear, in part because the value of the services they provide is often overlooked. Our analysis helps fill that information gap.”
Gold concludes his article by saying, “Wetlands are not just open space waiting to be developed. They are part of the infrastructure that helps reduce flood damage. And when they disappear, households and communities bear the burden, and the costs, every time a storm hits.”
Posted by Bob Rehak on 6/18/2026
3215 Days since Hurricane Harvey
The thoughts expressed in this post represent opinions on matters of public concern and safety. They are protected by the First Amendment of the US Constitution and the Anti-SLAPP Statute of the Great State of Texas.
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/DSC_2654.jpg?fit=1100%2C733&ssl=17331100adminadmin2026-06-18 19:53:352026-06-18 19:53:36Study Documents Link Between Wetland Loss, Downstream Flood Damage
6/17/26 – Harris County Precinct 3 Commissioner Tom Ramsey PE addressed the Kingwood Executive Group this morning about flooding and infrastructure as the season’s first tropical storm formed less than a hundred miles away from Houston. Local business owners comprise the group. Many had flooded badly during Hurricane Harvey.
Kingwood Executive Group with Ramsey and State Rep. Charles Cunningham in blue blazers, center/front row.
They came eager to learn more about the status of flood-mitigation efforts in the area, turmoil at the Harris County Flood Control District (HCFCD), and a new, 5,300-acre proposed floodplain development just upstream from Kingwood. And true to form, Ramsey addressed each issue head on. But first…
Tropical Storm Arthur
Ironically, just as Tropical Storm Arthur formed, the rain started to end in the Lake Houston Area. That’s because of the lopsided nature of Arthur. See the infrared water-vapor satellite image below. Most of the rain is falling offshore and to the east of Galveston Bay.
NHC expects Arthur to dump torrential rains on East Texas and Louisiana as it moves inland – up to 20 inches in places. Freeport received 9 inches this morning. However, totals dropped off farther inland with much of SE Harris County receiving only 2-4 inches. My rain gage in Kingwood recorded less than a half inch between midnight and 11 AM.
Arthur has affected primarily coastal counties as it tracked NE parallel to the coast. It should make landfall near High Island late this afternoon or early this evening.
Arthur formed a timely and ironic backdrop for a speech about flooding to many whose homes and businesses flooded severely.
Ramsey’s Priorities
Ramsey began his talk to the Executive Group with a story about his focus compared to others on Commissioners Court. “My job is to, number one, take care of infrastructure,” he said. “That’s what I get most of my calls on. Most people don’t call me about my policies. They call me on, ‘When are you going to fix something?’ My colleagues, on the other hand, are focused more on social programs.”
Ramsey puzzling over the budget priorities of some other commissioners
He then added, “We will appoint a new director next week. And it will be an engineer, not a politician. An engineer who can deliver projects, not hold press conferences and tell you what you want to hear. It will be someone that actually understands what it takes to get projects delivered.”
Flood Bond Update
After emphasizing the need to speed up project delivery, Ramsey gave a brief update on the 2018 Flood Bond. The $2.5 billion approved by voters attracted another $2.7 billion in matching funds for a total of $5.2 billion available. But the county has only spent about $1.5 billion of that since 2018.
“So, we have a lot to do,” said Ramsey. “Probably another $3+ billion in the next four years. You better have someone who understands construction, who can deal with the things that happen during construction. My concern is that the easiest part is done. Design work is the easy part. Go actually build $3.5 billion worth of improvements! That’s a huge deal.”
Kingwood Flood-Mitigation Projects
Ramsey noted that the Taylor Gully/Woodridge project has started construction, but that the Kingwood Diversion Ditch project is still being studied. He wants to put the pedal to the metal on that one too. HCFCD spent 4 years doing a preliminary engineering review on the Diversion Ditch that was supposed to have taken 300 days. The latest Flood Bond Update shows the project may start construction in 2030, after HCFCD completes another study.
“You must have other projects queued up ready for construction,” Ramsey said. “I don’t know that we have all the money lined out for that construction, but you have to get the design work done. I’d rather have a whole lot of projects sitting on the shelf ready to build, than sit around and wait for someone to decide for us what the priorities are.”
Scarborough Floodplain Development
Ramsey next addressed the proposed 5,300-acre development north of Harris County in the floodplain at the confluence of the West Fork of the San Jacinto River and Spring Creek. He called it “A really bad idea.”
“Some ill-advised folks are trying to do some development there.” Ramsey suggested instead that the area should become a park. “What a great park that 5,000 acres would make for this entire area. What a great location for significant flood mitigation for the entire county!”
He emphasized that every drop of rain falling north and west of the confluence funnels past Kingwood. “Sometimes we lose sight of that,” he said.
Ramsey spent much of the rest of his time discussing a series of related issues, their connections, and finding funding for them.
In regard to adding more floodgates to the Lake Houston Dam, he noted potential significant cost escalation. That led to a discussion of partnership funding, surplus toll-road income, and using money for pressing state-mandated obligations versus other issues that have no constitutional mandate.
Before becoming commissioner in 2020, Ramsey began his engineering career 50 years ago designing drainage systems in the Porter/New Caney area. So, he is thoroughly versed on infrastructure issues in the Lake Houston Area and is fighting to make us safer.
The timing of his talk as Arthur was forming in the Gulf provided an irony worthy of a Hollywood movie!
Posted by Bob Rehak on 6/17/2026
3214 Days since Hurricane Harvey
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/06/DSC_5428.jpg?fit=1100%2C407&ssl=14071100adminadmin2026-06-17 13:56:532026-06-20 18:39:24Ramsey Addresses Kingwood Group as Tropical Storm Forms Offshore
Economic Benefits of Healthy Watersheds
6/20/26 – The EPA has published a nationwide study of studies focused on quantifying the economic benefits of healthy watersheds. This 9-page PDF provides a high-level introduction to the EPA’s Healthy Watersheds Program.
The fact sheet also provides dozens of timely examples that support preserving 5,300 acres west of Kingwood instead of developing it.
The studies fall into six categories:
Nationwide Scope, Wide Variety of Metrics
Scientists from Alaska to Florida and New England to Hawaii conducted the 35 studies cited in the fact sheet. They used a wide variety of metrics to estimate economic benefits. See several examples below.
In Iowa, riparian buffers for agricultural land reduced water treatment costs in the Raccoon River watershed by $2.63 million annually.
In Maine, forest conservation efforts contributed to such exceptional water quality in the Sebago Lake watershed that Portland Water District has avoided the need for a $150 million water treatment plant. They report a payback of $4.80 to $8.90 per dollar invested.
New York City saved an estimated $8-10 billion in costs to build a water treatment facility by preserving 140,000 acres of forests in the watershed that supplies residents with drinking water.
In Tampa, mangroves, salt marshes, and seagrasses provide flood-protection benefits valued at $31 million per year by preventing property damage from 100-year floods.
28,000 protected acres of greenway along the Meramec River reduce flood damage by an average of $31 million annually for residents downstream by promoting infiltration and reducing runoff rates.
In Middlebury, Vermont, protected wetlands and floodplains reduce flood damage to homes and businesses by an average of 54-78% per flood event by storing and slowly releasing floodwaters.
These studies are consistent with other studies I have reported. For instance, proximity to parks can increase home values by up to 20%. The parks also provide flood-reduction benefits.
Timely Lessons for Proposed Scarborough Development
The EPA publication provides timely lessons for the entire Lake Houston/Southern Montgomery County Area. A Dallas-based company named Scarborough has proposed developing 5,300 acres in floodplains and floodways west of Kingwood.
According to hydrologists, if Scarborough develops the land, it would be like “aiming a firehose at Humble and Kingwood.” But it doesn’t have to be that way.
You can help preserve this land, improve water quality in Lake Houston, reduce flooding, increase home values and provide healthy recreational opportunities.
If you haven’t already signed the petition at Change.org to block development of this floodplain property, please do so now. We’re closing in on 10,000 signatures. Both the Houston City Council and Harris County Commissioners Court have unanimously passed resolutions against developing the land.
Please help. Join thousands of your neighbors. Sign the petition now.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 6/20/2026
3217 Days since Hurricane Harvey
The thoughts expressed in this post represent opinions on matters of public concern and safety. They are protected by the First Amendment of the US Constitution and the Anti-SLAPP Statute of the Great State of Texas.
Study Documents Link Between Wetland Loss, Downstream Flood Damage
6/18/2026 – A new study published in the journal “Nature Water” on June 1, 2026 shows that wetland conservation is a potentially effective but undervalued strategy in managing growing flood risk. The authors, Jesse D. Gourevitch,
Adam C. Gold & Helena M. Garcia found a statistical link between wetland loss and rising flood insurance claims since 1985.
Economic Value of Wetlands in Reducing Flood Losses
The estimated increase in flood insurance claims due to wetland loss totals $10.1 billion.
That’s equal to about 9% of insured riverine flood losses. And according to a blog post by the authors in the Environmental Defense Fund website, “The highest added costs were concentrated in the Houston metropolitan area, southeastern Louisiana, and coastal Florida.”
The authors say that because the National Flood Insurance Program, or NFIP, covers only a fraction of total flood losses to homes, the full costs of wetland loss are likely even higher.
These numbers help quantify a value of land-use decisions for policy makers.
To help protect these wetlands and your home, please sign this petition on Change.org.
Other Savings Due to Wetlands
The authors caution that their study measures only one part of wetlands’ value: reducing insured riverine flood losses to residential properties.
However, they point out that wetlands also provide many other benefits. They include improving water quality, storing carbon, supporting wildlife habitat and creating recreational opportunities.
The study did not include many other categories of flood damage, such as losses to commercial or government property, business interruption, uninsured losses or flooding from coastal storm surge, etc. So, while the core estimate is significant, it is also conservative.
Local Interactive Map
The study also provides an interactive map that shows the value of wetlands in particular watersheds in terms of reducing downstream flood losses.
To see where the wetlands are near you, visit the USGS National Wetlands Mapper.
Under- and Unvalued Assets
Adam Gold, senior manager of coasts and watersheds science at EDF and co-author of the study, said, “Wetlands act like natural sponges during heavy rain, storing floodwater and slowing runoff before it moves downstream. Yet wetlands continue to disappear, in part because the value of the services they provide is often overlooked. Our analysis helps fill that information gap.”
Gold concludes his article by saying, “Wetlands are not just open space waiting to be developed. They are part of the infrastructure that helps reduce flood damage. And when they disappear, households and communities bear the burden, and the costs, every time a storm hits.”
Posted by Bob Rehak on 6/18/2026
3215 Days since Hurricane Harvey
The thoughts expressed in this post represent opinions on matters of public concern and safety. They are protected by the First Amendment of the US Constitution and the Anti-SLAPP Statute of the Great State of Texas.
Ramsey Addresses Kingwood Group as Tropical Storm Forms Offshore
6/17/26 – Harris County Precinct 3 Commissioner Tom Ramsey PE addressed the Kingwood Executive Group this morning about flooding and infrastructure as the season’s first tropical storm formed less than a hundred miles away from Houston. Local business owners comprise the group. Many had flooded badly during Hurricane Harvey.
They came eager to learn more about the status of flood-mitigation efforts in the area, turmoil at the Harris County Flood Control District (HCFCD), and a new, 5,300-acre proposed floodplain development just upstream from Kingwood. And true to form, Ramsey addressed each issue head on. But first…
Tropical Storm Arthur
Ironically, just as Tropical Storm Arthur formed, the rain started to end in the Lake Houston Area. That’s because of the lopsided nature of Arthur. See the infrared water-vapor satellite image below. Most of the rain is falling offshore and to the east of Galveston Bay.
NHC expects Arthur to dump torrential rains on East Texas and Louisiana as it moves inland – up to 20 inches in places. Freeport received 9 inches this morning. However, totals dropped off farther inland with much of SE Harris County receiving only 2-4 inches. My rain gage in Kingwood recorded less than a half inch between midnight and 11 AM.
Arthur formed a timely and ironic backdrop for a speech about flooding to many whose homes and businesses flooded severely.
Ramsey’s Priorities
Ramsey began his talk to the Executive Group with a story about his focus compared to others on Commissioners Court. “My job is to, number one, take care of infrastructure,” he said. “That’s what I get most of my calls on. Most people don’t call me about my policies. They call me on, ‘When are you going to fix something?’ My colleagues, on the other hand, are focused more on social programs.”
Replacement of HCFCD Director
Ramsey then segued to the resignation of HCFCD Executive Director Dr. Tina Petersen last week. “It may have been some concern to people, but it was a necessary thing if we’re going to do what we need to get done.”
He then added, “We will appoint a new director next week. And it will be an engineer, not a politician. An engineer who can deliver projects, not hold press conferences and tell you what you want to hear. It will be someone that actually understands what it takes to get projects delivered.”
Flood Bond Update
After emphasizing the need to speed up project delivery, Ramsey gave a brief update on the 2018 Flood Bond. The $2.5 billion approved by voters attracted another $2.7 billion in matching funds for a total of $5.2 billion available. But the county has only spent about $1.5 billion of that since 2018.
“So, we have a lot to do,” said Ramsey. “Probably another $3+ billion in the next four years. You better have someone who understands construction, who can deal with the things that happen during construction. My concern is that the easiest part is done. Design work is the easy part. Go actually build $3.5 billion worth of improvements! That’s a huge deal.”
Kingwood Flood-Mitigation Projects
Ramsey noted that the Taylor Gully/Woodridge project has started construction, but that the Kingwood Diversion Ditch project is still being studied. He wants to put the pedal to the metal on that one too. HCFCD spent 4 years doing a preliminary engineering review on the Diversion Ditch that was supposed to have taken 300 days. The latest Flood Bond Update shows the project may start construction in 2030, after HCFCD completes another study.
“You must have other projects queued up ready for construction,” Ramsey said. “I don’t know that we have all the money lined out for that construction, but you have to get the design work done. I’d rather have a whole lot of projects sitting on the shelf ready to build, than sit around and wait for someone to decide for us what the priorities are.”
Scarborough Floodplain Development
Ramsey next addressed the proposed 5,300-acre development north of Harris County in the floodplain at the confluence of the West Fork of the San Jacinto River and Spring Creek. He called it “A really bad idea.”
“Some ill-advised folks are trying to do some development there.” Ramsey suggested instead that the area should become a park. “What a great park that 5,000 acres would make for this entire area. What a great location for significant flood mitigation for the entire county!”
He emphasized that every drop of rain falling north and west of the confluence funnels past Kingwood. “Sometimes we lose sight of that,” he said.
More than 7,500 flood-weary residents from surrounding areas have signed a petition against the development.
Lake Houston Dam Gates Funding, Other Issues
Ramsey spent much of the rest of his time discussing a series of related issues, their connections, and finding funding for them.
In regard to adding more floodgates to the Lake Houston Dam, he noted potential significant cost escalation. That led to a discussion of partnership funding, surplus toll-road income, and using money for pressing state-mandated obligations versus other issues that have no constitutional mandate.
Before becoming commissioner in 2020, Ramsey began his engineering career 50 years ago designing drainage systems in the Porter/New Caney area. So, he is thoroughly versed on infrastructure issues in the Lake Houston Area and is fighting to make us safer.
The timing of his talk as Arthur was forming in the Gulf provided an irony worthy of a Hollywood movie!
Posted by Bob Rehak on 6/17/2026
3214 Days since Hurricane Harvey