Phil Bedient, Herman Brown Professor of Engineering and Director of the SSPEED Center, was honored by the Coastal Prairie Conservancy (CPC) on May 1 for his contributions to coastal prairie preservation.
“Phil Bedient is being honored for his incredible amount of research, advocacy, and partnership…to promote the work of the Coastal Prairie Conservancy,” said Mary Anne Piacentini, President and Chief Executive Officer of the CPC.
The mission of the CPC is to sustain a resilient Texas by preserving coastal prairies, wetlands, farms, and ranches to benefit people and wildlife. For nearly a decade, Bedient and the SSPEED Center have partnered with the CPC to conduct research that shows how vital the Katy Prairie and coastal prairie lands are to the region’s environmental health.
The partnership “has provided credibility and scientific rigor to the analysis showing that the lands on the historic Katy Prairie and other coastal prairie lands absorb, store, and slow down floodwaters,” said Piacentini. “The data, infiltration studies, and modeling…provide robust documentation showing that coastal prairie lands reduce flood risk in a language that is relatable to engineers and elected officials.”
Much of their current research examines the role of the Katy Prairie in post-Hurricane Harvey.
“We look at the Upper Addicks and Upper Barker [Reservoirs] to address Hurricane Harvey impacts through advanced computer modeling of hydrologic response using 2D HEC-RAS [software],” said Bedient. “As Houston develops, a lot of concrete goes in, drainage gets added, and it increases runoff. By preserving and fostering the prairie lands, we hope to contribute to a more natural drainage situation.”
In addition to bringing hydrologic modeling research to the CPC lands, Bedient has raised the profile of the CPC by highlighting the organization’s work in international SSPEED Center Conferences and mentored students on prairie conservation projects. His students have performed research and completed master's and doctoral degrees showing the value of prairie preservation and captured aerial imagery that has furthered new research initiatives in infiltration science.
Bedient and the SSPEED Center were formally honored at the Coastal Prairie Conservancy 2024 Bash: Colors of Conservation event on May 1 at the Houston Country Club.
This recognition celebrates the important role the SSPEED Center plays in conservation in the region. “The honor raises visibility of the work we are doing and the great relationships we have with the Coastal Prairie Conservancy,” Bedient said.
Photo credit: Jaime Leigh Sonnier, Casa de Camera