Flood Waters
After fierce opposition from mountain bikers, Bayou study pulled from website,tabled for revisions
Just last week, Charting Buffalo and White Oak Bayou released a study aimed at flood damage reduction improvements along the city's waterways.
The draft caused a stir throughout the city — and especially at the Tracey Gee Community Center in West Houston, where mountain bikers and tree lovers opposed to the measures turned out in droves. The proposed destruction of the popular Anthills trail is a particular flash point.
This week, the Harris County Flood Control District (HCFCD) sent out another email rescinding the draft, which was removed from the website due to "compelling issues regarding the presentation of certain concepts in the Charting Buffalo draft report."
"I think they were confused or caught off guard," Garcia said. "We were just showing things that could be. Not a done deal."
The email indicated that the input process will be suspended, and community meetings canceled, until proper modifications are made.
What are the "compelling issues?" What type of modifications?
"The report that we issued is filled with many concepts and ideas and options," Fred Garcia, assistant director of the HCFCD, told CultureMap. Garcia believes that the public saw the pictures in the study and noticed that some possible locations for future trails and parks would infringe upon private land, which incited a great deal of resistance.
"I think they were confused or caught off guard," Garcia said. "We were just showing things that could be. Not a done deal."
The HCFCD does not have the authority or the jurisdiction for public improvement projects, but the study does integrate ideas and proposals for bayou enhancements, like public access, urban design and habitat conservation and restoration. The county body could collaborate with community partners to bring those project to fruition in the future, though, with enough public will and sentiment.
But for now, back to the drawing board.
The HCFCD and the Charting Buffalo steering committee will make adjustments to renderings and graphics and find out, specifically, which items caused concern, in hopes of calming fears that might exist.
Garcia stressed that public input on the Charting Buffalo study was, is and will continue to be of extreme value in the process. The next time around, he says he hopes that the public will take the time to thoroughly read and properly absorb the study before providing feedback.
A timeline for the revision has not yet been set.
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Photo by Leonid Furmansky
