Exploration Green

Exploration Green was selected as a Texan by Nature Conservation Wrangler in 2020. During each Conservation Wrangler program cycle, Texan by Nature provides up to 6 projects with 12-18 months of tailored support in the form of program management, strategic planning, marketing messaging, metrics capture and analysis, professional content production, and partnership development – whatever is needed to accelerate the project. The information below includes results from the time the project was active in the Conservation Wrangler program. It may not reflect the most current program/project information. Please visit https://www.explorationgreen.org for the latest.

PROJECT SUMMARY:

Every year, the Texas Gulf Coast is faced with damaging storm systems, costing Texas communities billions of dollars in repairs. In southeast Houston, dedicated groups transformed a 200-acre defunct golf course into an innovative flood mitigation solution. Exploration Green provides stormwater detention for 500 million gallons of water, protecting over 2,000 nearby homes and businesses. This area is an integrated, natural solution for catastrophic seasonal flooding, while also serving as a nature preserve and recreation area with six-miles of trails and two athletic fields for community use. Exploration Green’s 39 acres of wetland habitat and 38 acres of permanent lakes support 1,000 native plant and wildlife species.

With a vision to create an innovative stormwater detention center, Clear Lake City Water Authority (CLCWA) purchased the defunct Clear Lake Golf Course property in 2011. The Bay Area of Greater Houston community needed a solution to mitigate the devastating seasonal flooding they were recurrently faced with, which was only worsened by 40+ years of residential and commercial development. In addition to stormwater detention, CLCWA aspired to use the land as a wildlife habitat and recreation space. Following numerous town hall sessions aimed towards garnering ideas for the land, the community came together and united around a cause – to rehabilitate the formerly neglected golf course into a more natural state.

Fueled by the outpour of community support, CLCWA developed a four year, five-phase plan to develop a model stormwater detention system that also brings nature to an urban space for observation and education, enhances natural habitats, and provides opportunities for area residents to connect with nature. Subsequently, the Exploration Green Conservancy (EGC) was established as a 501(c)3 non-profit organization to oversee the habitat and recreation aspects of the project.

In 2014, the CLCWA established a conservation easement in partnership with the Galveston Bay Foundation. This agreement ensures that Exploration Green will be permanently protected from future commercial development. That same year, an onsite wetlands plant nursery was established with the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Community Watershed Partners program, to grow wetland plants to be ultimately used in the filtration of stormwater runoff. Additionally, in partnership with the nonprofit Trees For Houston, an onsite tree nursery was created to provide the property with native trees.Early phases of the project saved over 150 homes from flooding during Hurricane Harvey and completely mitigated flooding during 2019 Tropical Storm Imelda. In addition to stormwater relief, the conservation area improves water quality, provides carbon sequestration, and has increased wildlife and plant diversity fivefold. Exploration Green also encourages area residents, from all walks of life, to utilize trails and attend weekly community events.

Clear Lake City Water Authority and Exploration Green Conservancy, along with 30 additional partners from local businesses to conservation organizations, support the Exploration Green project. Due to the strength and efforts of their community, Exploration Green has been able to flourish and grow, with 95% local funding and over 900 community volunteers.

PROJECT MISSION:

The Exploration Green Conservancy (EGC) is a volunteer-driven nonprofit dedicated to the protection and enhancement of Exploration Green – a permanently-protected, 200-acre green space for conservation, recreation, and flood detention in greater Houston.

EGC is dedicated to creating, maintaining and operating the habitat restoration and recreation facilities within Exploration Green while concurrently supporting the use of the area for storm water detention in order to:

Enhance the quality of life and outdoor experience for residents in the greater Bay Area
Provide abundant natural habitat areas for migrating and resident wild birds, butterflies and other native wildlife
Create nature trails for hiking, biking and pedestrian commuting, athletic fields and other recreation areas
Create functioning wetlands, lakes and other water features; and
Sponsor education efforts via area schools and other groups to enhance understanding of natural habitats, wildlife, environmental conservation, wetlands and storm water issues

PROJECT IMPACT:

150,000 wetland plants, 38 acres of permanent lakes, 39 acres of wetland plants, and 5,000 native trees
500 million gallons of stormwater detention
$300 million saved from flood damage in every 500-year rain event (occurs about every 7 years)
Habitat for over 1,000 species of plants and wildlife
1,000 community volunteers, as well as recreation, education, and volunteer opportunities for more than 500,000 individuals in the Greater Houston Bay Area
6 miles of paved trails, two small athletic practice fields
$120 million increase in property values for the community

PARTNERS INCLUDE:

Clear Lake City Water Authority, Galveston Bay Foundation, Trees for Houston, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Community Watershed Partners, Texas Parks & Wildlife Department, Texas Parks & Wildlife Foundation, Texas Master Naturalist, City of Houston, Harris County, Texas Coastal Management Program, Texas General Land Office, NOAA, Galveston Bay Estuary Program and TCEQ.

PROJECT NEEDS:

Exploration Green Conservancy was selected for Texan by Nature Conservation Wrangler based on the project’s positive impact to people, prosperity, and natural resources. Through the program, Texan by Nature is working with the Exploration Green Conservancy to address the following needs:

Funding to build an entry plaza and education center, hire a full-time staff member, maintenance and upkeep, organizational operations, educational materials, and marketing resources
Media visibility to bring awareness to their project, increase replication efforts, increase volunteer base, and recognize those involved
Volunteers for administrative and IT work to help with project upkeep and volunteer coordination efforts. Volunteer and team building opportunities are also available for individuals, groups, and businesses at Exploration Green
School partners to bring awareness of Exploration Green to local schools and to include Exploration Green in curriculum and field trips

TEXAN BY NATURE’S VISION AND SUPPORT:

Texan by Nature is working with Exploration Green Conservancy to create a model framework of their project to spur replication efforts in communities, state- and nation-wide. Additionally, TxN is working with EGC to encourage school partnerships, increase visibility, and develop new fundraising techniques.

Contact Kenzie Cherniak at kenzie@texanbynature.org or Exploration Green Conservancy at explorationgreen@gmail.com if you would like to support EGC, volunteer, provide resources or connections, are interested in partnering, or would like to learn more.

Texan by Nature’s Conservation Wrangler program is made possible due to support from program and project sponsors. Their dedication to conservation allows Texan by Nature to support selected projects in a myriad of ways, amplifying & accelerating their impact across the state of Texas.

This 2020 Conservation Wrangler project is proudly sponsored by: