What are your day-to-day duties? 

The Environmental Services Department ensures Flood Control District compliance with Federal, State and local environmental laws and regulations for all operations and maintenance programs. The Department also manages a mitigation banking program to offset unavoidable project impacts to regulated waters and wetlands. A key function of my current role is to oversee a diverse and talented group of staff that assist in the preservation of natural resources and the greening of Flood Control District practices while meeting our regulatory obligations.

What do you like most about your job?

I enjoy seeing a project go all the way through project development from a concept during a feasibility study, to preliminary engineering, to final design, and finally to a completed flood damage reduction project.  It can take a long time (years) to complete this process, but it’s very rewarding and humbling to look back at all the planning and individual decisions that went into creating a project with a big impact on a community.

What is the best career lesson you've learned so far?

I have tried to be open to developing skills that I may never need or want to use again, like Calculus.  This openness has created a lot of opportunities and allowed me to meet a lot of interesting people.  My Calculus professor introduced me to the person that got me my first job and I still talk to him today even though I struggled in the subject.

What’s the coolest thing you’re working on right now? 

I am fortunate to have a window into just about all of the innovative and cool projects the Flood Control District is doing, but I am personally interested in an effort working with Scott Elmer and Laura Cahill to develop  guidelines for minimizing wildlife hazards around airports. It’s been fascinating to learn about all the things airport operators think about to keep planes flying safely and how wildlife biologists view the various design features in our stormwater detention basins.  As a result, we are developing a consistent methodology with design guidelines for coordination of Flood Control District projects with the local airports in order to achieve our individual objectives.

What is something about yourself that most people don't know? 

I am an avid home brewer and enjoy brewing many styles of beer to share with friends and family. I had a neighbor that taught me the ropes of taking just four ingredients (water, barely, hops, and yeast) to create limitless possibilities. And my gracious wife allows me to sneak off to local craft breweries whenever we travel so that I can sample the regional specialty.

From the Interim Executive Director

Click here to read the monthly message from the Harris County Flood Control District's Interim Executive Director Alan Black.

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