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Halls Bayou

SWA is the urban design sub-consultant to a team of civil engineers, hydrologists, fluvialgeomorphologists and Public Engagement

specialist for this watershed “vision” and flood damage reduction project. Halls drains an area of 44.6 miles for a population of

196,000 located on a north, northeast arc of Houston between the Intercontinental Airport and Downtown. Repeated flood damage

to homes and businesses have precipitated a number of actions over the past decades including the buy-out of hundreds of homes

and the construction of a regional storm water basin. But progress has been intermittent and slow. The local flood control agency,

HCFCD, facing significant delays and funding challenges through the Federal COE implementation program and continued flooding

in the watershed, has launched this project as a locally funded initiative. With greater flexibility in demonstrating cost / benefits,

HCFCD has included a community redevelopment component to look broadly at opportunities to make public improvements

and partner with other entities to coordinate invested dollars. SWA is leading the creation of a community framework plan and

developing the conceptual ideas to enhancing flood control elements including the main channel, detention basins, and tributaries

for improved water quality, habitat restoration, recreation, neighborhood connectivity, and higher real estate values.

LocationHouston, TexasClientHarris County Flood Control DistrictBrown & Gay EngineersSWA ScopeMaster Planning - Urban DesignDevelop a watershed master plan and design recommendations for multi-use channel and storm water storage basinsSize20.24 miles (32.57 km)