Hunting Bayou Watershed
About the Watershed
The Hunting Bayou watershed is located in central Harris County, northeast of downtown Houston and is almost completely contained within the city limits of Houston, Galena Park and Jacinto City. The watershed covers about 30 square miles and flows into the Houston Ship Channel via Hunting Bayou, the watershed's single primary stream. There are about 45 miles of open streams within the watershed, including the primary stream and tributary channels. The estimated population within the Hunting Bayou watershed is just over 91,000.
Land Use
Frequent flooding along the main channel is extensive in the reaches above U.S. 90 and FEMA has mapped a large floodplain. In 2001, extreme flood levels brought on by Tropical Storm Allison were recorded in much of the watershed. Downstream of I-10 storm surge flooding is possible since that area is subject to tidal influences. Structural flooding in the watershed has been documented frequently in the past 20 years due to the concentrated development in the floodplain that was constructed prior to the existence of detailed floodplain maps and prior to current floodplain regulations. In addition, erosion and bank failures have created numerous maintenance problems for the District on the main channel and tributaries.
Environment
Herman Brown Park covers a total of 717 acres, with about 375 acres in the Hunting Bayou watershed. The Park has some developed recreational areas (ball fields, playgrounds and picnic areas), but for the most part has been managed with an environmental theme, which promotes wildlife habitat and bottomland forest preservation. Downstream of I-10, the channel flowline is below mean sea level and this reach of the bayou is tidally influenced.
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