MAAPNext Project Harris County is developing a flood mapping project called the Modeling, Assessment and Awareness Project (MAAPNext). Planned to improve flood resistance and resilience, this project will create new Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRM), water surface elevation change grids, flood depth grids, urban flooding maps, percent annual chance of flooding grids, percent 30-year chance grids, and water surface elevation grids for the 10%, 4%, 2%, 1,%, and 0.2% annual chance flood events. Grant 1 began in early 2019 and covers the analysis of 11 of Harris County’s 22 watersheds, shown in grey in Figure 5.6. FEMA provided Grant 2 funding for the watersheds shown in green on the exhibit, which includes Clear Creek through parts of Pearland. Although 90% of the drainage area drains into Clear Creek, an updated FEMA FIRM will be effective within the Harris County side of the City.
Wet Bottom Detention Ponds As Pearland embarks on the significant Drainage Master Plan program over the next decade, there is an opportunity to provide amenities within the drainage features such as access easements along channels and detention ponds. Some of these amenities, discussed during the public involvement portion of this project, include walking trails, canoe or kayak launch facilities, pavilions, and wet bottom ponds instead of dry. Texas A&M’s Non-point Education for Municipal Officials (NEMO) program defines a wet detention pond as a constructed basin with a permanent pool of water throughout the year. Compared to a dry bottom pond, the wet bottom pond may require increased initial construction cost, but may require less expense in recurring maintenance costs. NEMO considers a wet detention pond as stormwater quality best management practice, in addition to the potential water quality that benefits the community value. The Federal Aviation Administration's advisory circular (AC) 150/5200-33C provides guidance regarding hazardous wildlife attractants on or near airports recommends a distance of five miles between the closest point of the airports and a hazardous wildlife attractant. Examples of attractants could include: waste disposal facilities, wetlands, agriculture, aquaculture, golf courses, and ponds. Major airports, landing strips, and helipads within 5 miles of Pearland include: Houston Airpark, Pearland Regional, Skyway Manor (all within City Limits), William P. Hobby (3 miles north of Pearland), Ellington Air Force Base (3 miles northeast of Pearland), Polly Ranch (2 miles east of Pearland), Wolfe Air Park (1 miles south of Pearland), Houston Southwest (1 mile west of Pearland), and nineteen helipads shown on Figure 5.7. The proximity of these airports means that creating wet-bottomed ponds would potentially attract wildlife. Staff should coordinate with the FAA regarding this policy.
FIGURE 5.6: MAAPNEXT
FIGURE 5.7: AIR FACILITIES WITHIN 5 MILES
PEARLAND COMPREHENSIVE PLAN 2040
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Chapter 5
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