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Clean Coast Texas outlines green stormwater options for La Porte detention ponds
Summary
A Clean Coast Texas representative described green stormwater infrastructure — floating wetlands, rain gardens and cisterns — and offered technical assistance and small matching grants to help La Porte improve water quality and reduce localized flooding.
Scott Jones, a community outreach specialist with Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service representing the Clean Coast Texas program, presented several green stormwater infrastructure options the program can help implement, from constructed wetlands to floating islands and rain gardens.
"Basically, bottom line, we want to slow down the water. We want to spread it out and we want to soak it in," Jones said, describing how green systems can reduce runoff, improve water quality and provide habitat. He noted the program offers technical assistance, grant writing help and workshops, and that a memorandum of understanding would carry no financial obligation but formalize collaboration.
Jones highlighted floating wetlands as a practical retrofit for detention ponds with steep side slopes and showed examples from Pearland Nature Center and UTMB League City campus. He said Clean Coast Texas can support MS4 permit enhancements, citizen science water-quality monitoring, and small matching grant programs for local demonstration projects.
Council members expressed general interest and staff noted potential sites near the Hampton Inn detention pond for pilot work. Jones left contact information and packets for follow-up.
