Urban Development
The prevention and management of nonpoint source pollution in coastal areas poses a distinctive challenge to local decision makers. Although coastal areas hold great potential for development, urbanization can alter physical, chemical, and biological impacts within a watershed. Increasing water quality issues and degraded coastal resources point to the need for comprehensive solutions that protect and enhance coastal water quality as communities develop.
When developing new spaces, innovative thinking leads the way. Low Impact Development (LID) approaches should be used whenever possible to mitigate flood damage. Simple steps such as incorporating green infrastructure and breaking up impervious cover can increase stormwater infiltration in the local environment's groundwater reserves - a process that is critical for both the natural environment and downstream neighbors.
The following development guidance showcases Best Management Practices (BMPs) for new, existing, and site developments. These strategies provide a framework for preventing or greatly reducing the effects of nonpoint source pollution in our communities.
Development Types
When development occurs in previously undeveloped areas, it can be destructive to the natural landscape and hydrology of an area. New development and the associated increase in hard, impervious surfaces often has the unintended consequence of increasing the volume while decreasing the quality of stormwater runoff that makes its way into rivers and bays.
Using the following management measures when planning for new development in the Texas Coastal Zone can both reduce the amount of stormwater exiting a site and improve its quality.
While it is increasingly common that new development projects are required to incorporate stormwater BMPs, many existing developments were not subject to such regulations. When redevelopment opportunities present themselves, they pose an opportunity to correct design flaws and better address stormwater-related challenges such as poor water quality and large amounts of runoff. Retrofitting existing development gives us the chance to better protect and restore our coastal waterways.
Existing developments can utilize the following management practices to reduce issues caused by surface water runoff in developed areas.
Guidance
Check out the resources below for more information about design practices to use in your own backyard to improve the water quality of our region.
Check out the resources below for more information about design practices to use in your organization, city, or county development project to improve the water quality of our region.
Conservation design techniques take advantage of a site's natural features and identify opportunities to prevent or reduce environmental impacts during development.
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Did you know that you can protect your development and mitigate future flooding risks by simply reducing impervious cover at the site? Find out more about how breaking up surface cover can greatly reduce stormwater runoff volumes.
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During the construction process, soil is highly vulnerable to erosion by wind and water. Explore a variety of strategies for new development to regulate erosion from construction sites.
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Looking for ideas on how to sustainably manage stormwater in residential or commercial developments? You can improve the performance of drainage systems - often with only slight modifications - while also providing aesthetic benefits, recreational opportunities, and wildlife habitat.
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Find guidance for the design, construction and maintenance of best management practices that are most appropriate for the new developments in the Texas Coastal Zone.
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Download, print, and share a user-friendly guide to different forms of drainage design that mimic natural processes and allow urban areas to slow down, spread, and keep stormwater in the area.
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Does your development, city, or county have green infrastructure in place? Check out this guide to find maintenance requirements for some of these common stormwater management features.
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Projects aimed at revitalizing downtown areas are ideal for improving stormwater management while also beautifying a space.
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Find guidance for FEMA’s Flood Insurance Program and learn best practices for flood management.
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