Houston's extremely flat terrain and its intense rainfall patterns contribute, of course, to the flood problem. Because traditional stormwater systems increase the quantity and the rate of flow as development of an area takes place, other types of stormwater control have become quite popular in the Houston area. The present concept of stormwater design involves holding water in an area and releasing it slowly to decrease the impact of development on stormwater leaving an area. The county flood control district, as a matter of fact, now requires new developments in Harris County to design their drainage system so as not to change the rate or timing of the flow into receiving channels or streams. Some of the more popular methods used to control stormwater include natural drainage channels and detention ponds.
Natural drainage is a fancy name for old-fashioned roadside ditches and grassy drainage channels.
Detention systems or ponds hold stormwater and release it slowly to reduce impact downstream. Ponds to complement golf courses and parks, for instance, now often serve also as areas where stormwater runoff can be held and released slowly. Park areas as well as parking lots can also hold stormwater temporarily.