Written by: Colleen Gilbert, Executive Director, Greens Bayou Coalition

In 2001, Tropical Storm Allison caused devastating flooding in Houston.  The Greens Bayou watershed was especially affected and a group of volunteers at the North Houston Association decided that this was an opportunity to advocate for some serious changes in flood mitigation, which led to a larger vision.  They came up with this concept:

“The North Houston Association, through actions of its volunteer committees and administrative staff, will guide, promote and support the formation of the Greens Bayou Corridor Coalition (GBCC) and serve as a ‘facilitator’ to the GBCC in helping it perform activities directed toward achieving the GBCC’s mission.

The GBCC will have the mission of developing the Greens Bayou Corridor as an essential, attractive and well-planned multi-use waterway, linear park and trail system, utility corridor, and high-capacity cross-county transit/highway link to foster economic development, minimize flooding, preserve desirable green-space, and provide needed transportation and utility services to improve the viability of North Houston employment centers, commercial businesses, industries, the Houston Intercontinental Airport, and residential communities along its path.”

North Houston Association was the sponsoring organization.  Paula Lenz and Ann Cates provided administrative support, and Paula Lenz served on the first board and as the Agent for GBCC.  The original volunteer group included heavy hitters such as Jack Drake and Bart Baker with Greater Greenspoint Management District, Gary Montgomery with Montgomery & Associates, Joe Wozny with METRO, Tom Wussow, Bill Franke, Al Flores, Eric Hall, Lee Garrett and others.  They worked to bring leadership from City of Houston, Harris County, the Airport System, Flood Control, NHCRWA, TxDOT, METRO, law firms and engineering firms on as board members and partners of the GBCC mission.  They established GBCC as a 501(c)3 nonprofit and created Reach Advisory Committees to develop projects that would add parks, trails and flood mitigation to the bayou.  As Greens Bayou Corridor Coalition grew, NHA turned them loose, no longer providing administrative staffing.  GBCC hired its first Executive Director, Regina Lindsay.

Greens Bayou Coalition has changed its name slightly and revised its mission statement, but still advocates for flood mitigation, parks & trails and quality of life along the Greens Bayou watershed and continues to have Reach Committees to develop projects.  And importantly, Greens Bayou Coalition still feels a strong link to North Houston Association and feels that their mission and goals will be forever interconnected.