Advancing Sustainable Stormwater Solutions in Houston

Led by HARC in partnership with USGS, the Low Impact Development (LID) Performance Evaluation in the City of Houston project brings greater awareness of the innovative ways that LID practices improve sustainable urban development and stormwater management.  

Low-Impact Development, or LID, uses nature-inspired design to manage stormwater, improve water quality, and enhance urban environments. In a city like Houston, which has experienced repeated flooding and water quality challenges, LID practices provide practical, multi-benefit solutions that support resilient and sustainable growth. 

As part of this project, HARC and USGS monitored two LID practices at Almeda Road and Hickory Street to assess and analyze their performance. Water levels and stormwater quality samples were collected and transformed into performance metrics for pollutant percent and load reductions. This information gives decision-makers, researchers, and practitioners a clear picture of how LID practices are working on the ground. 

HARC also developed a one-stop-shop LID resource portal that includes a variety of tools, data downloads, and educational materials to help improve understanding of how these practices perform and how they can support resilient urban development. 

The portal serves as a go-to destination for exploring how LID is being applied across the greater Houston-Galveston region. Through this portal, you are able to: 

• View where LID and other Nature-Based Solutions are located using an interactive mapping dashboard 

• Access monitoring data and performance results from Houston LID projects 

• Explore fact sheets, infographics, and in-depth educational materials 

• Download quality-assured datasets to support planning, research, and implementation 

Access the resource portal at www.lidhtx.harcresearch.org.

PREPARED IN COOPERATION WITH THE TEXAS COMMISSION ON ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY AND U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY 

This project has been funded wholly or in part by the United States Environmental Protection Agency under assistance agreement (581-21-10148) to Texas Commission on Environmental Quality. 

The contents of this document do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the Environmental Protection Agency, nor does the EPA endorse trade names or recommend the use of commercial products mentioned in this document. 

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Top banner photo credit: Asakura Robinson