Texas A&M presenter urges green infrastructure to limit runoff and improve water quality

Scott Jones of Texas A&M AgriLife presented Clean Coast Texas to the Orange City Council on March 24, explaining how green infrastructure and low-impact development techniques can reduce stormwater runoff, improve water quality and mitigate localized flooding.

Jones described program services available to coastal-zone communities — grant searches and grant-writing assistance, no-cost memorandum-of-understanding support, planning and engineering partnerships, model stormwater ordinances and education for citizens and staff. Examples included permeable pavers (shown in Rockport), rain gardens, cisterns, biofilters and, where applicable, oyster reefs.

Council members asked about project cost caps and timelines. Jones said there is no set funding cap; project size depends on available grants and program timing. He said timelines are specified in MOUs and contracts and that the program can assist with permit-related studies and coordination; the program does not perform Corps of Engineers dredging but can help identify contacts and assessments. Jones highlighted Exploration Green (Clear Lake) as a large retrofit example that reduced neighborhood flooding during storms.

Jones emphasized maintenance needs for green infrastructure and said the program helps write maintenance into grant contracts. He offered workshops and technical manuals to support local staff and citizen-scientist monitoring. Council members expressed interest in county-level coordination and in moving towards nature-based stormwater solutions for new development and redevelopment.

The presentation concluded with council members encouraging staff to follow up on potential projects and coordination with the county.