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Memorial Park Demonstration Project
Introduction
The Memorial Park Demonstration Project is a maintenance project of the Harris County Flood Control District. Its purpose is to repair Buffalo Bayou, to help minimize erosion of the bayou’s bed and banks through natural channel design techniques and to help reduce sediment deposition that adversely affects water quality downstream of the project area.
Project Location
The project is located on Buffalo Bayou west of Kirby Drive and east of West Loop 610. The project will span from the Bayou Bend parking lot to approximately 7,800 feet upstream just south of Memorial Park’s Picnic Lane. The project parameters could change based on funding.
Current Condition of Buffalo Bayou
This reach of Buffalo Bayou has remained natural throughout the years. The bayou has experienced erosion for multiple reasons, including changes in stormwater runoff rates due to urbanization and extended flows from the release of stormwater from the Addicks and Barker reservoirs. Erosion in the project area has caused bank failures, loss of public and private land and an adverse effect on water quality.
Project History
Over long periods of time, Buffalo Bayou has been responding to the effects of urbanization by naturally eroding and widening. In Nov. 2010, the Bayou Preservation Association (BPA) sponsored a workshop for experts to float on Buffalo Bayou to evaluate and identify potential locations for a project that would demonstrate the benefits and effectiveness of natural channel design techniques. These techniques are based on principles of fluvial geomorphology, which is the study of river behavior. The BPA workshop identified a section of Buffalo Bayou bordered by Memorial Park and the River Oaks Country Club as a possible project location. The BPA and Memorial Park Conservancy asked the Harris County Flood Control District to become a partner in the project that became known as the Memorial Park Demonstration Project. While the Flood Control District did not pioneer the Memorial Park Demonstration Project, it is now leading the project’s design and implementation. By using natural channel design techniques, this project will serve to slow the erosion process and to help create a self-sustaining bayou. Project components include using natural slope stabilization techniques, such as toe wood, cross vanes and pool and riffle systems. The project area will be replanted with native vegetation to further minimize erosion.
Before and After
A project similar to the Memorial Park Demonstration Project was completed along Cypress Creek in October 2006. The top picture shows the damaging effects of erosion on the side slopes of Cypress Creek. The bottom picture shows the completed project that utilized natural channel design to repair and help minimize future erosion.
Before
After
Project Cost
The Memorial Park Demonstration Project is estimated to cost approximately $6 million. The City of Houston plans to contribute funds for the water quality improvement aspect of the project. The Harris County Flood Control District is exploring additional funding partners as well, including the River Oaks Country Club.
Project Timeline
The final design of the Memorial Park Demonstration Project is expected to be completed in Feb. 2012. Construction is estimated to begin in summer 2012 and is expected to last approximately six months. During construction, access to public areas, such as Memorial Park, will be carefully coordinated to allow continued public use. The Harris County Flood Control District cautions that these dates are subject to change.
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