Exploration Green
Awards and Recognition
The Exploration Green Project, and its primary partner organizations (Clear Lake City Water Authority (CLCWA), Lockwood, Andrews & Newnam, Inc. (LAN), and the Exploration Green Conservancy (EGC) have garnered multiple awards and recognition for their efforts to simultaneously construct stormwater detention facilities and native habitat. See below.
2023 City of Houston Certificate of Special Recognition
Houston Mayor Pro Tem Dave Martin
City of Houston Mayor Pro Tem Dave Martin honored the Clear Lake City Water Authority with a Certificate of Special Recognition at the Final Ribbon Cutting held Saturday, 09/30/2023.
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In addition to Mayor Pro Tem Martin, Houston Councilmembers Sallie Alcorn and David Robinson also attended, expressing their appreciation for the project and its benefits. ​
2023 Space City Rotary LEAP for Mankind Award
Rotary Club of Space Center
"Each year, the LEAP for Mankind Awards recognizes an individual and a business exemplifying Leadership, Excellence, Achievement and Philanthropy, while making a significant impact on the current and future lives of the families of the Bay Area. This year's honorees are Robert "Bob" Mitchell for the Individual Award and Exploration Green Conservancy for the business award. There will also be special honorary tribute to Mary Alys Cherry for her tireless support of non-profits and philanthropic causes in the Bay Area for more than 50 years."
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Click the Rotary International logo at left to visit the Rotary Club of Space Center website
2022 Harris County Precinct 2 Proclamation
Harris County Precinct 2 Commissioner Adrian Garcia
Harris County Precinct 2, Adrian Garcia, Commissioner, recognized Exploration Green by issuing a proclamation “to celebrate the awesome success and approaching completion of the five large detention lakes able to detain 500,000,000 gallons of storm water, surrounded by trails, vast green space, and happy, protected residents.”
2022 Texas Environmental Excellence Award - Finalist
Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ)
The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) recognized the Exploration Green Conservancy as a finalist at its annual Texas Environmental Excellence Awards Banquet, in the Civic/Community category.
2021 Project Award for Public Infrastructure
Association of Water Board Directors - Texas
At their Mid-Winter conference held in Galveston, the Association of Water Board Directors - Texas, their 2021 Project Award for Public Infrastructure was presented to the Clear Lake City Water Authority for the construction of Exploration Green. The award was based on innovativeness, ability to be replicated by other governmental entities, community support, and multiple benefits to the community.
Present to receive the award were Jennifer Morrow, General Manager of the CLCWA, CLCWA Directors John Branch and Anthea Guest, and Bill Rosenbaum from the construction engineering firm LAN.
2020 Conservation Wrangler
Texan by Nature (TxN)
April 1, 2020 – TEXAS – Texan by Nature (TxN), a Texas-led conservation non-profit announced today that Exploration Green Conservancy has been named among the 2020 Conservation Wranglers. The organization’s Conservation Wrangler program recognizes six innovative conservation projects across the state of Texas for their science-based and results driven approach to conservation along with their ability to positively impact people, prosperity, and natural resources. The 2020 Conservation Wranglers will work with the Texan by Nature team, receiving 12-18 months of dedicated program support and tailored resources.
“Every year, Texan by Nature shines a light on conservation stewards and their efforts to take care of the state I’m proud to call home,” shared former First Lady and Founder of Texan by Nature, Mrs. Laura Bush. “The Conservation Wrangler program proves that collaborative partnerships in conservation yield great benefits for Texas and its people. Congratulations to the six 2020 Conservation Wranglers, and thank you for the terrific example you’ve set for the rest of us.”
2019 Treasure of the Bay
Texas Master Naturalist Galveston Bay Chapter
The Clear Lake City Water Authority was recognized for showing great foresight in getting community input to design a natural recreation area around a much needed storm water detention area. The addition of native trees and wetland plants provide a wonderful habitat for birds, butterflies and other wildlife while the wetland plants help cleanse the water before it enters the Bay. All of this was made possible by the great partnerships and volunteer efforts coordinated by Exploration Green Conservancy.
2019 Texas Engineering Excellence Award, Gold Medal for Exploration Green Phase 1
American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) Texas Division
According to civil + structural ENGINEER Media, “The American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) Texas awarded civil engineering firm Lockwood, Andrews & Newnam, Inc. (LAN) a gold medal for its work on the first phase of the Clear Lake flood control project in Harris County…
The Engineering Excellence Awards Competition has been held by the American Council of Engineering Companies of Texas since its inception in 1975 to honor and recognize outstanding achievements within the engineering community. A panel of judges around the state select projects based on innovation, future value to the engineering profession, social and economic considerations, complexity and exceeding the client’s needs.”
2019 H-GAC Parks and Natural Area On-the-Ground Project over $500k
Houston-Galveston Area Council (H-GAC)
According to Houston-Galveston Area Council (H-GAC) website, "H-GAC established the Parks and Natural Areas awards program in 2006 to highlight best practices and innovative approaches to parks planning and implementation. H-GAC honors projects in the categories of Projects Over $500,000, Projects Under $500,000, Planning Process, and Policy Tools."
2019 H-GAC Our Great Region 2040 Excellence Award
Houston-Galveston Area Council (H-GAC)
According to the H-GAC 2016 Awards Showcase, “Exploration Green is a partnership project of the Clear Lake City Water Authority and Exploration Green Conservancy. The project transformed a defunct golf course into a 200-acre multi-purpose stormwater detention, nature habitat, and community recreation area. Surrounding apartments and homes, previously in decline, have started to revive economically as area residents enjoy the trails and nature habitat.”
FEMA Case Study Recognizes Exploration Green as Effective Floodplain Management
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Case Study date 09/09/2019
A recent Case Study from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) stated "Exploration Green (EG) stands as an ideal example of what is possible as a result of collaboration within a community to achieve long-term, sustainable mitigation of flood-related damage to residential, civic, and commercial structures, while improving quality of life for the people and businesses in the surrounding community."
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Click image to left to view FEMA video
2019 People’s Choice Award
Urban Land Institute
According to the ULI Houston website, “The prestigious award recognizes developments and open spaces that demonstrate best practices in design, construction, economic viability, healthy places, marketing and management and is modeled after the national Urban Land Institute Global Awards for Excellence.”
2019 Finalist, Development of Distinction
Urban Land Institute
According to the ULI Houston website, “The prestigious award recognizes developments and open spaces that demonstrate best practices in design, construction, economic viability, healthy places, marketing and management and is modeled after the national Urban Land Institute Global Awards for Excellence.”
2018 Special Service Award
Houston Sierra Club
According to the Houston Sierra Club website, “Exploration Green Conservancy is another local group that exemplifies the Sierra Club’s “grassroots” ethos. Local residents down near Clear Lake and Ellington Airport, saw the value in saving an old golf course from development and then turning it into a community asset that reduces flooding, increases public park land, provides for wildlife habitat via wetlands, wildflower, and tree plantings, and gives people a place to walk in a great natural setting.”
2018 Allied World Resilience Award
National Wildlife Federation (NWF)
According to NWF’s press release, “Recognizing a best-in-class example of using natural infrastructure to protect vulnerable communities, Houston’s Exploration Green is being honored with the National Wildlife Federation-Allied World Resilience Award."
2018 Mayor’s Proud Partner Recognition from Keep Houston Beautiful
Mayor Sylvester Turner's Proud Partners Program and Keep Houston Beautiful
The Office of Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner recognized the Exploration Green Conservancy and Clear Lake City Water Authority for “making a positive impact on Houston’s environment.”
2018 Stormwater Management Green Infrastructure (Second Place)
National Association of Flood and Stormwater Management Agencies (NAFSMA)
“Exploration Green transformed an out-of-use golf course into a 200-acre nature park and stormwater detention facility,” said Dr. John Jacob, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service specialist with the recreation, park and tourism sciences department of Texas A&M University in College Station. “For more than a decade we have been involved in the planning and implementation of actions to repurpose this golf course and surrounding area into a green space with water detention features and recreational areas.”
Read full article in AgriLife Today at Read More below.
2016 H-GAC Our Great Region 2040 “Connections Award”
Houston-Galveston Area Council (H-GAC)
According to the H-GAC 2016 Awards Showcase, “The Clear Lake City Water Authority’s (CLCWA) Exploration Green project offers an example of creative thinking in this arena. Exploration Green has set aside land for both active recreation and stormwater detention through a coalition between the CLCWA and two partner organizations: the Galveston Bay Foundation (holding the conservation easement) and the Exploration Green Conservancy (responsible for maintenance).”
Exploration Green appears on Page 4 of the 2016 Awards Showcase document read more below.
2015 American Association of Landscape Architects Texas Chapter Honor Award to SWA for Exploration Green
American Society of Landscape Architects
Landscape architectural firm SWA Architecture Group, creator of the detailed Exploration Green Master Plan, received national recognition for the concept and quality of the project’s Master Plan.
2015 Trees for Houston “Arbor Award”
Trees for Houston
Exploration Green Conservancy and Executive Board Member Debra Goode both received an annual Arbor Award from Trees for Houston, our highly acclaimed partner for acquiring, nurturing and planting native Texas trees.
2013 Certificate of Recognition
Mayor Annise Parker's Proud Partners Program and Keep Houston Beautiful Houston-Galveston Area Council (H-GAC)
“In recognition of the Clear Lake City Water Authority’s ‘tremendous efforts on behalf of our city,’ Keep Houston Beautiful honored the Exploration Green flood control, conservation and recreation project with a special Certificate of Recognition from Mayor Annise Parker’s 2013 Proud Partners Program and Keep Houston Beautiful at a recent ceremony.”
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Click image at left to view full certificate
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2013 H-GAC “Planning Award for Parks and Natural Areas”
Houston-Galveston Area Council (H-GAC)
“Exploration Green and the Clear Lake City Water Authority were awarded the 2013 Planning Award by the Houston-Galveston Area Council last week, approved by the H-GAC board chaired by Houston Judge Ed Emmett. The influential government planning organization ranked the local partners’ planning for the Clear Lake green space at the top of nine public space development plans across the Houston region.”