Exploration Green is transforming a former 178-acre golf course in Clear Lake, Texas, into five massive detention ponds that can each hold 100 million gallons of stormwater (the equivalent of 750 Olympic-sized swimming pools). In addition, Exploration Green will also serve as a nature park comprising 105 acres of natural habitat with wetlands and native grass land areas, 12 miles of hike-and-bike trails, two athletic fields and other amenities. The project, once completed, will protect nearly 2000-3000 homes and transform Clear Lake into one of the most flood-resilient communities in Texas.
Building the detention ponds has already turned out to be immensely beneficial to the community. In August 2017, Hurricane Harvey came ashore creating a storm of an intensity and duration unparalleled in Houston history. The hurricane dumped an estimated 45 inches of rainfall on the Clear Lake area and even more in some surrounding neighborhoods. Although only 80 percent of the Phase 1 pond was excavated at the time of the hurricane, it helped detain 100 million gallons of water, protecting at least 150 homes from flooding.