In 2015, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Galveston District (USACE) and the Flood Control District broke ground on the Greens Bayou Federal Flood Risk Management Project in the upper stretch of the Greens Bayou watershed. Under a Project Partnership Agreement signed in May 2015, the USACE was responsible for design and construction and the Flood Control District was responsible for acquiring other property and easements, relocating utilities, and later maintaining the completed stormwater detention basin and channel.
The project includes approximately 3.7 miles of channel conveyance improvements, intended to reduce the area’s water surface elevations, from Cutten Road to Veterans Memorial Drive, and the construction of the Antoine Stormwater Detention Basin, formally known as HCFCD Unit P500-05-00. The Antoine Stormwater Detention Basin is divided into two parts, split by West Greens Drive. It is connected by box culverts and is intended to function as a single stormwater detention basin, in order to reduce the risk of flooding by taking in excess stormwater during heavy rain events and then releasing it slowly back to the channel when the threat of flooding has passed. The stormwater detention basin was constructed to hold 1,650 acre-feet, or 538 million gallons, of excess stormwater that might otherwise flood homes and businesses.
Upon completion of construction, the USACE planted native trees and grasses in and around the basin, with wetland plants placed in low areas as part of the landscaping. In addition, teams planted grasses on disturbed areas of the bottom and sides of the bayou, and native trees where appropriate along the bayou banks. These features will improve stormwater quality, support wildlife and provide opportunities for recreational benefits.