Summary: This project will develop a GIS-based environmental resource identification map to assess critical conservation areas, integrate resource and conservation planning through a regional decision support system, and identify high priority mitigation locations. Data from the existing Environmental Advisory Committee (EAC) will be shared among the participating agencies.

Using the ecosystem approach established by the EAC, critical environmental resources within the 8-county H-GAC region will be delineated through the creation of vector data through imagery analysis at a one-foot resolution. This effort will represent the first regional, systematic identification of critical environmental resources at the scale necessary for transportation planning and conservation planning.

The regional decision support system will identify priority mitigation areas as well as establish an evaluation system for transportation projects. This will provide transportation planning agencies the ability to assess the impact of specific transportation projects on critical environmental areas. The results of these tasks will be synthesized by the workgroup into a report detailing how the proposed evaluation system will be integrated into transportation planning efforts.

Project Status: The Houston-Galveston Area Council of Governments signed its contract with FHWA and held its official kick off meeting.

Contact: Meredith Dang
Land Use Transportation Coordinator
Houston-Galveston Area Council of Governments
(713) 993-2443
meredith.dang@h-gac.com

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