Project Overview

An aerial view of Falcon Pond and the surrounding area.
An aerial view of Falcon Pond and the surrounding area.

This project, which supports the implementation of the Arroyo Colorado Watershed Protection Plan,  addresses management measures within the tidal segment of the Arroyo Colorado watershed. Two coastal sites within the Arroyo Colorado watershed are implementing selected low impact development (LID) improvements: the City of Los Fresnos Nature Park and the Los Fresnos Independent School District High School student parking lot. This project is combining resources from communities, universities and other stakeholders to build a sustainable stormwater drainage program for other Texas coastal communities to follow.

Los Fresnos is developing the 20-acre nature park immediately south of the Los Fresnos High School, with funding in part from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, on land purchased with Coastal Impact Assistance Program funds. The LID elements include pervious sections added to a parking lot, bioswales, and a rainwater collection system from the roof of the restroom building. Educational components are also being developed. High school classes will use the park as an outdoor classroom for a variety of natural sciences and natural resource-based classwork.

The Los Fresnos High School parking lot is being modified to allow stormwater to be drained to existing vegetated areas and an isolated detention wetland. The parking lot has been refurbished to reduce erosion and sediment in the stormwater, including adding native trees to capture and detain stormwater and re-grading vegetated filter strips at the curb cuts.

Los Fresnos science students perform Citizen Water Quality Monitoring in the parking lot, with water testing kits and training. The high school will incorporate this experiential learning into their Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) curricula.

Arroyo Colorado Watershed Coordinator is coordinating education and outreach efforts and support ting partner communication and cooperation, public awareness and understanding, student monitoring training, and communication with public officials.