Owners may not realize that the Harris County Flood Control District (HCFCD) requires acknowledgment of United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) permitting for work done in HCFCD rights-of-way (ROW).

HCFCD designs, implements and maintains flood infrastructure in Harris County. Businesses looking to expand their existing developments or looking to build new developments within Harris County are subject to HCFCD regulations. This can require:

• A Wetlands Delineation to investigate potential Waters of the United States (WOTUS) or other regulated waters under USACE jurisdiction within the project area.
• A Threatened & Endangered Species Review to determine the presence of protected species.
• A Cultural Resources Review to assess impacts the project may have on historical sites.

When required, these studies must be accurate, as the business owner will be held liable for damages to WOTUS and/or to historical sites that may occur during construction.

Covering 266, 807 square miles, second to only Alaska, Texas is home to 10 different ecosystem regions:

• Piney Woods: pine and oak forests
• Gulf Prairies and Marshes: level areas dissected by streams and rivers
• Post Oak Savanah: grasslands
• Blackland Prairies: tall grasses and fertile soils
• Crosstimbers: irregular plains and prairies with high density trees
• South Texas Plains: thorny shrubs and trees
• Edwards Plateau: hill county and steep canyons
• Rolling Plains: rolling hills and flatlands
• High Plains: area of plateaus
• Trans-Pecos: diverse habitats and vegetation

Texas is unique because its ecoregions are the result of a large amount of variation in climate and landscapes providing habitats for a vast amount of wildlife.

Located between Houston and Galveston, the Armand Bayou Nature Center (ABNC) is one of the largest supporters of the marshes, prairies, and wetlands found in the Gulf Prairies and Marshes ecoregion. Not only are they one of the largest preservations in Texas, they are also one of the largest in the United States. The work they do to protect the natural habitats found in the south is beautiful.

The ABNC is home to over 370 species of birds, mammals, reptiles, and amphibians. Throughout the 4,000 acres, you can see these faunas on one of their many hiking trails, field trips, or tours. Needless to say, the ABNC is fun for all. Read more about Texas regions and the Armand Bayou Nature Center.

We are so lucky to have one of SSCI’s own, Owner and President, Helen Hodges, on the board for the ABNC. The values held by the ABNC are reflected in how Ms. Hodges leads SSCI.