Re: crazy weather/ flooding

I'm not sure of exact code requirements, I'm not much of a numbers person,  
all newer construction areas (since the 70's I'm guessing)  are built on  
raised area above the street.  All driveways and front yards slope down to  the 
street....for runoff and prevent flooding. Problem was that the older  areas were 
flooding badly, since they were level with the streets and much lower  than 
the newer areas.  There was so much new construction in wetland areas  where 
the water used to go.  This caused bad flooding, as seen with Allison  some 
years back.  Now the law is to have retention ponds every so  often.   In more 
expensive neighborhoods these are disguised as  elaborate ponds with rock 
formations, plantings, etc.  In other areas, the  plan is to plant them with native 
wetland plants.  Others are native  grasses which are kept mowed 
(unfortunately).  We have a lot of bayous that  run throughout the city, especially in my 
neighborhood, which used to be one of  those wetlands.  When I tell a long time 
resident of Houston where I live,  they always say, "oh yes, the rice 
patties".   Apparently for  generations this entire area was used to farm rice.  We do 
have parks on  either side of our subdivision that have natural and man made 
lakes.  Great  for the wildlife, and viewing of birds in our area.  We used to 
live in the  "country", but not anymore at all...so the parks alleviate that 
feeling of  claustrophobia for me.
 
Noreen
zone 9
Texas Gulf Coast
 
In a message dated 3/11/2006 11:02:32 PM Central Standard Time,  
gardenchat-owner@hort.net writes:

And  here, code requires a 1:10 slope away from the foundation to prevent 
water  from flooding the basements.

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