The Greens Bayou watershed is located in north Harris County and
encompasses portions of the cities of Houston and Humble. The upper reach of
Greens Bayou flows in an eastward direction and the lower reach flows southward
into the Houston Ship Channel. The watershed covers about 212 square miles and
includes four primary streams: Greens Bayou, Halls Bayou, Garners Bayou, and
Reinhardt Bayou.
There are about 308 miles of open streams, including the primary
streams and tributary channels. Based on the 2010 U.S. Census, the estimated
population of the Greens Bayou watershed is 528,720.
Flooding
of homes and businesses along Greens Bayou and its tributaries has occurred
numerous times in the last two decades, with devastating flood levels
throughout the watershed brought on by Tropical Storm Allison in 2001 and Hurricane Harvey in
2017.
Significant floodplains and high-density development have combined to cause
high damages during frequent flood events. Additionally, storm surges can
influence flooding levels along the lower 10 miles of the watershed.