Buffalo Bayou Watershed
About the Watershed
The Buffalo Bayou watershed is located in west-central Harris County and drains an area that is mostly within the City of Houston and, to a lesser degree, the Memorial Villages. Buffalo Bayou is the largest primary stream within the watershed and also the sole outlet for the Addicks and Barker reservoirs. The bayou flows into the Houston Ship Channel after combining with White Oak Bayou and passing through downtown Houston. Buffalo Bayou becomes the Houston Ship Channel at the Turning Basin. The Buffalo Bayou watershed covers approximately 103 square miles and has about 47 miles of open streams within the watershed, including the primary stream and tributary channels. The estimated population within the watershed (Harris County portion) is just over 410,000.
Land Use
The watershed is almost entirely urbanized, except for the Clodine Ditch sub-area near Barker Reservoir, which is partially undeveloped.
Completed Plan Features
Early regional planning for the entire watershed was completed by the Corps. The Corps enlarged and straightened Buffalo Bayou from the Addicks and Barker dam outlets to approximately where Beltway 8 exists today.
Upstream of the I-610 West Loop, there are numerous tributaries flowing into Buffalo Bayou which have been included in various levels of subregional planning. Some are now concrete-lined channels, or have been fully enclosed as storm sewer systems; others have not been modified. Addicks and Barker Reservoirs were constructed to protect areas downstream along Buffalo Bayou and downtown Houston. Linear stormwater detention, to store excess flood waters, has been constructed by the District in the right-of-way of Buffalo Bayou between Wilcrest Drive and Dairy Ashford Road.
Environment
Buffalo Bayou passes through Terry Hershey Park, Memorial Park and Sam Houston Park. Although the watershed is highly urbanized, maintenance is generally limited to clearing debris blockages. Buffalo Bayou downstream of Beltway 8 is heavily wooded and in a natural state. Upstream of Beltway 8 to the reservoirs, Buffalo Bayou was cleared and enlarged in the 1950's, but has since regained natural characteristics.
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