Want to learn how to create healthy, resilient, natural spaces in your community that can mitigate the effects of flooding? Harris County Precinct 4 will sponsor a free event this weekend at Jesse Jones Park called “Floods and Phytoremediation.”
The event will be held indoors in the park’s Nature Center. People can also participate virtually via Zoom. To register for the virtual alternative, click here. Drop-ins are welcome for the in-person option; no registration is necessary.
What is Phytoremediation?
This event definitely takes the prize for Best Title in the Curiosity Category. I didn’t even know what phytoremediation was. But once I looked it up, I got very interested.
Phytoremediation uses living plants to clean up soil, air, and water contaminated with certain types of hazardous contaminants. The term is a marriage of the Greek phyto (plant) and Latin remedium (restoring balance). It takes advantage of plants’ abilities to concentrate elements and compounds from the environment and to detoxify various organic compounds.
Goal of Program
Organizers of the program hope to make the community more resilient to extreme precipitation events by making people more knowledgeable about the possibilities and getting them more involved.
Staff and volunteers at Jesse Jones Park hope to plant thousands of trees and other vegetation along the creek this fall and winter to:
Help slow and absorb flood waters
Phytoremediate toxins
Prevent erosion
Beautify the area.
“Once established, these areas could be utilized in the research about phytoremediation,” said Jason Naivar, the Superintendent of Jesse Jones Park.
Grants from NOAA and the Boston Museum of Science helped make the program possible.
Learn More about Health Hazards of Extreme Flooding and How Plants Can Reduce Toxicity
Jesse Jones Park and Lonestar College-Kingwood have partnered to bring together experts to speak about the health hazards of extreme flooding. They will also focus on how native plants can help reduce the toxicity of these events.
Speakers include:
Jason Naivar-Superintendent of Jesse Jones Park introduce the program and explain the history of flooding in Jones Park.
Theresa Harris of American Association for the Advancement of Science will speak on initiating public engagement projects.
Dr. Kristy Daniel of Texas State University will speak on volunteer training in science.
Dr. Brian Shmaefsky from Lone Star College Kingwood will discuss general aspects of phytoremediation.
Professor Xingmao (Sam) Ma of Texas A&M University will focus on phytotechnology related to civil engineering practices.
All Jones Park events allow for proper social distancing. Bring your own water bottle, however. Due to Covid concerns, the park’s water coolers are still shut down.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 8/3/2021
1435 Days since Hurricane Harvey
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/20210803-Screen-Shot-2021-08-03-at-3.23.39-PM-copy.jpg?fit=924%2C1200&ssl=11200924adminadmin2021-08-03 15:40:092021-08-03 15:42:15Don’t Miss “Floods and Phytoremediation” This Saturday At Jesse Jones Park
A front moving into the region could bring high hourly rainfall rates and rapid street flooding, according to Jeff Lindner, Harris County’s meteorologist. He says, “A weak front will move into the area today and tonight, and stall near the coast or just offshore on Tuesday and Wednesday.”
Weather Live radar composite as of noon CDT, 8.2.21.
Slow-Moving Front, Training Cells, Possible Street Flooding
“The slow-moving front is moving southward across north and central TX. Numerous showers and thunderstorms have already formed along it. The air mass in the Houston region will become increasingly unstable this afternoon. Expect numerous, slow-moving showers and thunderstorms to develop across the region,” says Lindner.
“The combination of slow movement, deep tropical moisture, and the potential for training all points toward a heavy rainfall threat this afternoon,” he said.
“The main threat will likely be short-term rainfall rates of 2-3 inches per hour leading to rapid onset street flooding.”
Jeff Lindner, Harris County meteorologist
Mainly South of I-10 and Offshore by Tomorrow
Lindner continued, “The front will push toward the coast tonight and may even move offshore on Tuesday. A slightly drier air mass will build into the region behind the front with rain chances focusing near the coast and across Gulf waters later today and tomorrow.”
He sees the main rain chances on Tuesday for areas south of I-10. However, he also predicts much of the activity will be offshore.
Enjoy the slightly drier air mass and “cooler” temperatures behind the front as it washes out by late week. After that, onshore flow will return along with humidity. “By next weekend, heat index values could near advisory levels,” Lindner warns.
Tropics to Pick Up by Mid-August
On an unrelated topic, Lindner sees no concerns for the next 5 days for tropical development in the Atlantic basin. However, Lindner sees signals that the Atlantic basin will become increasingly favorable for development toward mid August.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 8.2.21based on information provided by HCFCD
1434 Days since Hurricane Harvey
https://i0.wp.com/reduceflooding.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Radar-8.2.21-noon.jpg?fit=1200%2C1677&ssl=116771200adminadmin2021-08-02 12:26:042021-08-02 12:27:55Possible Street Flooding Later Today
Tyson’s Sponge City article focused on recent Chinese floods from July 17-21, 2021. They hit a large manufacturing center called Zhengzhou with a population of more than 10 million especially hard. Rains there were eerily reminiscent of Hurricane Harvey.
While the Sponge City investments didn’t save Zhengzhou from a 5000-year flood, they did provide many benefits. And many lessons.
Sponge Cities and Green vs. Gray Infrastructure
The title of Tyson’s article is, “To curb urban flooding, China is building ‘sponge cities.’ Do they work?” Answer: Not by themselves. At least not yet. And not for a 5000-year storm.
The Sponge Cities concept has a large green component as opposed to being all gray. Think of gray infrastructure as dams and other concrete based solutions. China has constructed 97,000 dams since the 1950s, says Tyson. That doesn’t even include the dikes and levees also built to prevent riverine flooding in cities built on floodplains. But those alone were not preventing flooding.
China has had a large urban migration in the last 40 years. Since 1978, the country’s urban population expanded fivefold. As concrete replaced green space, urban drainage systems in most Chinese cities proved insufficient to cope with rising flood risk, says Tyson. Hence, a push for more green solutions
Says Tyson, “China’s Sponge City program aims to use pervious pavements, rain gardens, green roofs, urban wetlands, and other innovations to absorb water during storms. The soil then purifies that water and gradually releases it – much like a sponge. The government has invested more than $12 billion in the program since 2014 to help cities create sponge features on 20% of their land, with the goal of retaining or reusing 80% of annual precipitation by the 2030s.”
But the Sponge City idea involves more than just green features. Guy Carpenter, who models climate risks for insurance companies, points out that the concept also includes construction of large capacity drainpipe networks, underground stormwater storage tanks, and other flood-control facilities.
One-Hundred-Year Level of Protection Inadequate for Record Rains
Says Carpenter, “The aim of the Sponge City project is to protect the city from floods with return periods up to about 1-in-100 years (1% annual chance). Both the peak rate of precipitation and the total rainfall amount of this event far exceeded the tolerance of the design scope of the Sponge City.”
Zhengzhou in Mainland China’s Henan Province was struck by tropical cyclones Cempaka and In-fa. They dumped more rain on Zhengzhou in a day – 28 inches – than it usually receives in a year. From start to finish, Zhengzhou received 32.5 inches. The one hour peak was 7.9 inches.
The Sponge City investments were not wasted. Despite the severity of the rainfall, they eliminated 125 previous flood-prone locations (77% of total). They have also proven effective with light to medium precipitation, reducing flood peaks, promoting the sustainable circulation, and recovery of rainwater.
The South China Morning Post reported that the flood caused at least 66 deaths, including 14 in the local subway system and six in a tunnel.
Extreme flooding in Zhengzhou, China, on July 20, 2021, after 28 inches of rain fell in 24 hours. (Image credit: UN Climate Change Twitter feed)
The heavy rainfall almost caused several reservoirs to breach. More than 230,000 people in surrounding areas had to be evacuated as a precaution. Workers are still shoring up the reservoirs.
The severity of this event simply exceeded the flood control and storm-water drainage facilities in the city including the ‘sponge city’ additions. The event had knocked out transportation, communications, water supply, power and other industries.
Zhengzhou’s Hurricane Harvey
Sounds a lot like Houston during Harvey. And it was, relatively speaking.
The following tables from Harris County Flood Control District’s final report on Tropical Storm Imelda compare rainfall totals for different durations during several recent storms including Harvey and Allison. These are the max totals recorded inside Harris County. In some cases, the storms produced higher totals in neighboring counties.
Max rainfall rates recorded in Harris County during different durations three major storms.
Remember, Zhengzhou got 28 inches in a day, 7.9 inches in an hour and 32.5 inches for the storm. So their totals are comparable to Harvey’s.
The South China Morning Post also describes the chaos that reigned in Zhengzhou, much as it did in Houston after Harvey. The Chinese government had invested heavily not just in Sponge Cities, but in Smart Cities. The latter were supposed to provide people with extra evacuation time. However, the Post reported Zhengzhou was cast back into the “digital dark ages” when the disaster knocked out the Internet and electricity. Warnings did not get from officials to the people who needed them.
Don’t Miss “Floods and Phytoremediation” This Saturday At Jesse Jones Park
Want to learn how to create healthy, resilient, natural spaces in your community that can mitigate the effects of flooding? Harris County Precinct 4 will sponsor a free event this weekend at Jesse Jones Park called “Floods and Phytoremediation.”
It starts at 1PM, 20634 Kenswick Drive, Humble, TX 77338 near Spring Creek. For directions, click here.
The event will be held indoors in the park’s Nature Center. People can also participate virtually via Zoom. To register for the virtual alternative, click here. Drop-ins are welcome for the in-person option; no registration is necessary.
What is Phytoremediation?
This event definitely takes the prize for Best Title in the Curiosity Category. I didn’t even know what phytoremediation was. But once I looked it up, I got very interested.
Phytoremediation uses living plants to clean up soil, air, and water contaminated with certain types of hazardous contaminants. The term is a marriage of the Greek phyto (plant) and Latin remedium (restoring balance). It takes advantage of plants’ abilities to concentrate elements and compounds from the environment and to detoxify various organic compounds.
Goal of Program
Organizers of the program hope to make the community more resilient to extreme precipitation events by making people more knowledgeable about the possibilities and getting them more involved.
Staff and volunteers at Jesse Jones Park hope to plant thousands of trees and other vegetation along the creek this fall and winter to:
“Once established, these areas could be utilized in the research about phytoremediation,” said Jason Naivar, the Superintendent of Jesse Jones Park.
Grants from NOAA and the Boston Museum of Science helped make the program possible.
Learn More about Health Hazards of Extreme Flooding and How Plants Can Reduce Toxicity
Jesse Jones Park and Lonestar College-Kingwood have partnered to bring together experts to speak about the health hazards of extreme flooding. They will also focus on how native plants can help reduce the toxicity of these events.
Speakers include:
All Jones Park events allow for proper social distancing. Bring your own water bottle, however. Due to Covid concerns, the park’s water coolers are still shut down.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 8/3/2021
1435 Days since Hurricane Harvey
Possible Street Flooding Later Today
A front moving into the region could bring high hourly rainfall rates and rapid street flooding, according to Jeff Lindner, Harris County’s meteorologist. He says, “A weak front will move into the area today and tonight, and stall near the coast or just offshore on Tuesday and Wednesday.”
Slow-Moving Front, Training Cells, Possible Street Flooding
“The slow-moving front is moving southward across north and central TX. Numerous showers and thunderstorms have already formed along it. The air mass in the Houston region will become increasingly unstable this afternoon. Expect numerous, slow-moving showers and thunderstorms to develop across the region,” says Lindner.
“The combination of slow movement, deep tropical moisture, and the potential for training all points toward a heavy rainfall threat this afternoon,” he said.
Mainly South of I-10 and Offshore by Tomorrow
Lindner continued, “The front will push toward the coast tonight and may even move offshore on Tuesday. A slightly drier air mass will build into the region behind the front with rain chances focusing near the coast and across Gulf waters later today and tomorrow.”
He sees the main rain chances on Tuesday for areas south of I-10. However, he also predicts much of the activity will be offshore.
Enjoy the slightly drier air mass and “cooler” temperatures behind the front as it washes out by late week. After that, onshore flow will return along with humidity. “By next weekend, heat index values could near advisory levels,” Lindner warns.
Tropics to Pick Up by Mid-August
On an unrelated topic, Lindner sees no concerns for the next 5 days for tropical development in the Atlantic basin. However, Lindner sees signals that the Atlantic basin will become increasingly favorable for development toward mid August.
Posted by Bob Rehak on 8.2.21 based on information provided by HCFCD
1434 Days since Hurricane Harvey
China’s “Sponge Cities”
A reader sent me a link to a fascinating article by Ann Scott Tyson in the Christian Science Monitor about China’s “sponge cities.” It reminded me of a recent study by Dr. Matthew Berg about the need for conservation to be a component of all flood solutions.
Tyson’s Sponge City article focused on recent Chinese floods from July 17-21, 2021. They hit a large manufacturing center called Zhengzhou with a population of more than 10 million especially hard. Rains there were eerily reminiscent of Hurricane Harvey.
While the Sponge City investments didn’t save Zhengzhou from a 5000-year flood, they did provide many benefits. And many lessons.
Sponge Cities and Green vs. Gray Infrastructure
The title of Tyson’s article is, “To curb urban flooding, China is building ‘sponge cities.’ Do they work?” Answer: Not by themselves. At least not yet. And not for a 5000-year storm.
The Sponge Cities concept has a large green component as opposed to being all gray. Think of gray infrastructure as dams and other concrete based solutions. China has constructed 97,000 dams since the 1950s, says Tyson. That doesn’t even include the dikes and levees also built to prevent riverine flooding in cities built on floodplains. But those alone were not preventing flooding.
China has had a large urban migration in the last 40 years. Since 1978, the country’s urban population expanded fivefold. As concrete replaced green space, urban drainage systems in most Chinese cities proved insufficient to cope with rising flood risk, says Tyson. Hence, a push for more green solutions
Says Tyson, “China’s Sponge City program aims to use pervious pavements, rain gardens, green roofs, urban wetlands, and other innovations to absorb water during storms. The soil then purifies that water and gradually releases it – much like a sponge. The government has invested more than $12 billion in the program since 2014 to help cities create sponge features on 20% of their land, with the goal of retaining or reusing 80% of annual precipitation by the 2030s.”
But the Sponge City idea involves more than just green features. Guy Carpenter, who models climate risks for insurance companies, points out that the concept also includes construction of large capacity drainpipe networks, underground stormwater storage tanks, and other flood-control facilities.
One-Hundred-Year Level of Protection Inadequate for Record Rains
Says Carpenter, “The aim of the Sponge City project is to protect the city from floods with return periods up to about 1-in-100 years (1% annual chance). Both the peak rate of precipitation and the total rainfall amount of this event far exceeded the tolerance of the design scope of the Sponge City.”
Zhengzhou in Mainland China’s Henan Province was struck by tropical cyclones Cempaka and In-fa. They dumped more rain on Zhengzhou in a day – 28 inches – than it usually receives in a year. From start to finish, Zhengzhou received 32.5 inches. The one hour peak was 7.9 inches.
According to Guy Carpenter, who models climate risks for insurance companies, $7.7 billion of those $12 billion “sponge city” dollars were invested in Zhengzhou. Zhengzhou is one of China’s major manufacturing centers and where Apple manufacturers most iPhones.
The Sponge City investments were not wasted. Despite the severity of the rainfall, they eliminated 125 previous flood-prone locations (77% of total). They have also proven effective with light to medium precipitation, reducing flood peaks, promoting the sustainable circulation, and recovery of rainwater.
Damage
Yale Climate Connections reported that preliminary damage estimates exceed $10 billion.
The South China Morning Post reported that the flood caused at least 66 deaths, including 14 in the local subway system and six in a tunnel.
The heavy rainfall almost caused several reservoirs to breach. More than 230,000 people in surrounding areas had to be evacuated as a precaution. Workers are still shoring up the reservoirs.
The severity of this event simply exceeded the flood control and storm-water drainage facilities in the city including the ‘sponge city’ additions. The event had knocked out transportation, communications, water supply, power and other industries.
Zhengzhou’s Hurricane Harvey
Sounds a lot like Houston during Harvey. And it was, relatively speaking.
The following tables from Harris County Flood Control District’s final report on Tropical Storm Imelda compare rainfall totals for different durations during several recent storms including Harvey and Allison. These are the max totals recorded inside Harris County. In some cases, the storms produced higher totals in neighboring counties.
Remember, Zhengzhou got 28 inches in a day, 7.9 inches in an hour and 32.5 inches for the storm. So their totals are comparable to Harvey’s.
Yet Zhengzhou gets 40% less rain on average than Houston. Zhengzhou’s annual rainfall is 29.7 inches. In contrast, Houston averages 49.77 inches.
So you can see how the Zhengzhou flood totally overwhelmed the city’s defenses. The Wall Street Journal reported that the food had a recurrence interval of 5000 years. This was China’s Hurricane Harvey!
Lessons from Sponge Cities and Smart Cities
The South China Morning Post also describes the chaos that reigned in Zhengzhou, much as it did in Houston after Harvey. The Chinese government had invested heavily not just in Sponge Cities, but in Smart Cities. The latter were supposed to provide people with extra evacuation time. However, the Post reported Zhengzhou was cast back into the “digital dark ages” when the disaster knocked out the Internet and electricity. Warnings did not get from officials to the people who needed them.
“Millions of people in Zhengzhou struggled with basic communication, transport, buying food and even keeping people alive,” says the Post.
In my opinion, this story underscores the need to:
Posted by Bob Rehak on 7/31/2021
1432 Days after Hurricane Harvey