Exploration Green Grand Opening: Innovative Approach to Flood Control and Environmental Protection (Source: APWA Reporter)
By Abby Stanhouse
The Clear Lake City Water Authority’s (CLCWA) Exploration Green Detention Facility is a 178-acre former golf course in southeast Houston that has been transformed into a stormwater detention system, native habitat, and recreational space for the community. The project is an example of how flood mitigation and urban resilience can be achieved through innovative, holistic planning, multi-disciplinary collaboration, and community involvement.
CLCWA purchased the property in 2011 and engaged planning and engineering firm Lockwood, Andrews and Newnam, Inc. (LAN) to begin design in 2013. Construction of the green infrastructure project began in 2015 and was recently completed in September 2023. Over the course of the project, CLCWA worked closely with area residents to develop the detention facility.
