New Manual Equips Texas Communities to Reduce Flood Risk Using Nature

As Texas faces increasing flood risks, a newly published statewide guidance manual can help local leaders, planners and practitioners incorporate nature into resilience strategies. The Nature-Based Solutions for Flood Resilience in Texas guidance manual, developed by the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) with support from The Nature Conservancy in Texas (TNC), Freese and Nichols, Inc. and other partners, provides practical, science-based guidance for planning and implementing approaches that reduce flood impacts while delivering benefits for people and nature.

Nature-based solutions use or mimic natural features and processes to improve resilience to flooding and other environmental challenges. Working alongside traditional infrastructure, these approaches can help slow, store and absorb floodwaters while also improving water quality, promoting biodiversity and creating healthier places to live.

The new guidance manual synthesizes information on nature-based flood mitigation strategies into a single statewide resource designed to help local governments, planners and practitioners evaluate, plan and implement projects that reduce flood risk. It provides a framework for identifying appropriate nature-based solutions and assessing project feasibility while considering design, construction, operation, maintenance and adaptive management needs.

“Too often, nature-based solutions are overlooked in conversations about infrastructure and flood mitigation. The Nature-Based Solutions for Flood Resilience in Texas guidance manual helps change that by providing practical, science-informed guidance for integrating nature into flood mitigation strategies. I’m proud to be part of an effort that makes these approaches more accessible to decision-makers across Texas,” said Justin Kozak, nature-based solutions project manager for The Nature Conservancy in Texas.

The manual serves as a resource for organizations seeking to incorporate nature-based approaches into planning efforts and infrastructure investments, too. An accompanying resource, Example Model Ordinance Language for Nature-Based Solutions for Flood Resilience, was developed as an additional tool for local governments interested in incentivizing or requiring these approaches through local regulations and is available upon request from the TWDB.

Users can also explore TWDB’s Interactive Dashboard, which helps identify and evaluate potential flood mitigation opportunities through mapping tools, planning resources and site-specific data. The dashboard features a series of video case studies that showcase projects from across the state, providing decision-makers with real-world examples of how natural infrastructure can reduce risk while improving water resources, habitat and quality of life. Support for this was made possible in part by Lyda Hill Philanthropies.

“We’re deeply grateful to Lyda Hill Philanthropies and the Texas Water Development Board for investing in nature-based solutions and helping make this guidance available to communities across Texas,” said James McGuire, state director of The Nature Conservancy in Texas. “This manual, together with the video case studies and other supporting resources, will help local leaders identify and implement effective strategies that protect people, strengthen economies, enhance water resources and support wildlife habitat.”

The Nature-Based Solutions for Flood Resilience in Texas guidance manual is available for download online from the Texas Water Development Board.