The impacts even reached Galveston Bay where the floods diluted saline water so much that oysters died. This year's floods set new records for high water on the Trinity river near Liberty, breaking those that were set before Livingston Dam was even built. That's enough water to fill 1,200 swimming pools in less than a minute and to fill the Astrodome with water in only 12 minutes. Only a series of flood control dams held the floodwaters in check and kept the damages from being worse. Some critics say that structural measures like large dams provide a false sense of security that makes people feel they are safe from flooding.
Structural measures are also expensive and can result in catastrophic losses if they fail.
Steps are being taken that could lessen potential flood losses. Studies are assessing the impact of floods depending on the amount of development that's allowed in low-lying areas. Development in the region's floodplain is being regulated by establishing uniform criteria. Harris County is building computer models to provide a better idea of how many homes and businesses have been built in low-lying areas. The Harris County Flood Control District requires new developments to include provisions to temporarily store stormwater runoff.