Case Studies
The Bayou
Tyler Gentry
Bayou
A bayou is a small, slow-moving stream or creek, or a lake or pool
(bayou lake) that lies in an abandoned channel of a stream. Bayous
are usually located in relatively flat, low-lying areas, for example, in
the Mississippi River delta region of the southern United States. A
bayou is frequently a slack water anabranch or minor braid of a
braided channel, that is moving with less velocity than the main
stem. Many bayous are the home of crawfish, certain species of
shrimp, other shellfish, and catfish.
– Wikipedia.com
Greens Bayou
After several years of study and coordination with the Harris County
Flood Control District (HCFCD) and the public, the Corps completed
a comprehensive feasibility study for several tributaries of Buffalo
Bayou. The Buffalo Bayou Comprehensive Study investigated
measures to reduce flood damage losses occurring within the
Buffalo Bayou watershed, which encompasses most of the Greater
Houston Area. The study resulted in a 1990 congressional
authorization for six separate tributary flood damage reduction
projects including Green Bayou.
Greens Bayou
Continued
The authorized project included an enlargement of the
channel, vegetation clearing, detention basins, tree and
shrub plantings, and recreation features. The HCFCD asked
the Corps to consider another project that would have less
environmental impact, take into consideration ongoing
HCFCD projects and focus on areas with higher flood risks.
The Corps agreed and initiated a General Reevaluation
Study (GRR) in 1995.
Greens Bayou
Continued
Trees and wildlife habitat will be preserved wherever possible. The new stormwater
detention basin could include habitat and recreational features. Examples might be:
Hiking, biking and walking trails
Birdwatching sites
Playfields
Water Quality features; and
Wildlife habitat features
Native trees and grasses could be planted in and around the basin, with wetland
plants installed in low areas as part of the landscaping. These features would create
wildlife, water quality and recreation benefits.
1 The total cost of the project is $46.3 million.
2 The volume of material to be excavated from the detention basin is 2.5 million cubic
yards. This is the amount of material it would take to fill the Astrodome.
3 With the proposed project, flooding will decrease downstream.
4 The total average annual flood damage reduction benefits should be approximately
$10.8 million.
Greens Bayou
Continued
Drainage Area : 212 Sq. Miles
Watershed Population (in Harris County) : 397,748
Open Stream Miles : 308 Miles
Primary Streams :
Garners Bayou
Greens Bayou
Halls Bayou
Reinhardt Bayou
Halls Bayou
As a tributary of Greens Bayou, Halls Bayou is located in north
central Harris County and includes the City of Houston and
unincorporated areas of Harris County, with approximately 197,000
people living in the area. Flowing east to join Greens Bayou, it
covers nearly 42 square miles and is approximately 20 miles in
length. Halls Bayou collects drainage from west of Veterans
Memorial Drive eastward until it joins Greens Bayou at Brock Park.
Halls Bayou consists primarily of
developed urban land with a mix of
residential, commercial and
industrial uses, as well as some
pockets of undeveloped land.
There are nearly 5,900 structures
in the mapped 1% (100-year)
floodplain of Halls Bayou.
Halls Bayou
Continued
Under the authority of a 1996 federal law, the Harris County Flood
Control District is conducting the Halls Bayou Federal Feasibility Study in
an effort to identify a plan that would address flooding problems along
Halls Bayou and qualify for federal funding. If federal participation is
secured, this powerful partnership will allow the District to work handin-hand with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and combine the
strengths of both agencies to bring greater flood damage reduction
benefits to the communities along Halls Bayou.
Three storm water detention basins are
being developed to help reduce the risk of
flooding. Recreational opportunities are
being incorporated into two of these
projects, in cooperation with partners such
as Harris County, the City of Houston and
the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.
Cedar Bayou
The Cedar Bayou watershed is located in east Harris County.
The channel forms most of the boundary between Harris
County and Liberty and Chambers Counties, with about half
of the watershed in Harris and the remainder in the other
two counties. Cedar Bayou flows in a southward direction
from its headwaters in Liberty County to its mouth at
Galveston Bay. The watershed covers approximately 202
square miles, with Cedar Bayou being the sole primary
stream. There are about 128 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 32,000.
Although a large floodplain exists in the upper and middle
reaches of Cedar Bayou, this portion of the watershed is
sparsely developed, and therefore, the flooding is more
threatening to roads and agriculture than structures.
Flooding along the tributaries in the urbanizing portions of
the watershed is a concern.
Cedar Bayou
Continued
Most of the primary stream and
floodplain is environmentally
sensitive due to the saltwater
marshlands in the lower reaches
and the undeveloped natural
channel reaches upstream of
Baytown. The Texas Parks and
Wildlife Department considers the
area around the mouth of Cedar
Bayou to be a critical wildlife
habitat.
Cedar Bayou
Continued
Drainage Area : 202 Sq. Miles
Watershed Population (in Harris County) : 32,592
Open Stream Miles : 128 Miles
Primary Streams :
Cedar Bayou
Luce Bayou
The Luce Bayou watershed is located in the far
northeast corner of Harris County and drains into
the East Fork San Jacinto River, in the upper
reaches of Lake Houston. The watershed extends
through Liberty County and into San Jacinto
County with its headwaters located in the Sam
Houston National Forest. The watershed covers
about 227 square miles, of which only 73 square
miles are within Harris County. Luce Bayou is the
watershed's single primary stream. There are
about 35 miles of open streams within the
watershed, including the primary stream and
tributary channels. Within Harris County, the only
significant tributary is Shook Gully, which drains
the area to the east of the main channel. The
estimated population within the watershed (Harris
County portion) is just under 9,500. The floodplain
from Luce Bayou is significant in Harris County due
to the large upstream drainage area.
Luce Bayou
Continued
Luce Bayou is, for the most part, a natural, vegetated channel. The lower
reaches are influenced by the pool elevation from Lake Houston, so that
the lower few miles of the bayou are full of water. This constant
inundation of the channel and the undeveloped conditions of the
watershed support extensive and varied wildlife habitat and make this
watershed environmentally sensitive to flood damage reduction projects.
Luce Bayou
Continued
Drainage Area : 73 Sq. Miles
Watershed Population (in Harris County) : 9,498
Open Stream Miles : 35 Miles
Primary Streams :
Luce Bayou
Vince Bayou
The Vince Bayou watershed is located in southeast Harris County.
Most of the watershed lies within the Pasadena and South
Houston city limits, while the remainder is within the City of
Houston. The Vince Bayou watershed covers about 16 square
miles and includes two primary streams: Vince Bayou and Little
Vince Bayou. Vince Bayou flows from Genoa-Red Bluff Road to the
Houston Ship Channel and Little Vince Bayou drains the remaining
third of the watershed. There are about 19 miles of open streams
within the watershed, including the primary streams and tributary
channels. The estimated population within the Vince Bayou
watershed is just under 89,000.
Most flooding issues in the watershed have been from local
problems before flows reach channels within the District's
jurisdiction. The main channel and some tributaries have existing
floodplains that will produce out-of-bank flooding conditions
under severe storm events. However, since several channel
enlargement projects were completed in the 1980's, no out-ofbank flooding along the Vince Bayou or Little Vince Bayou has
been recorded, even though significant rainfall events have
occurred in the watershed.
Vince Bayou
Continued
Drainage Area : 16 Sq. Miles
Watershed Population (in Harris County) : 88,789
Open Stream Miles : 19 Miles
Primary Streams :
Little Vince Bayou
Vince Bayou
Armand Bayou
The Armand Bayou watershed is located in
southeast Harris County and encompasses
portions of the cities of Houston, Pasadena,
Deer Park, La Porte and Taylor Lake Village.
Armand Bayou flows in a southward direction
from its headwaters near Deer Park to its
mouth at Clear Lake. The watershed covers
about 60 square miles and includes five
primary streams: Armand Bayou, Horsepen
Bayou, Big Island Slough, Willowspring Creek
and Spring Gully. There are about 86 miles of
open streams within the watershed, including
the primary streams and tributary channels.
The estimated population within the Armand
Bayou watershed is just over 120,000.
Armand Bayou
Continued
Regional planning is important on Armand Bayou due to past
historical flooding and future development, which is
expected for this area. Sizable floodplains exist in areas along
the main channel and in Pasadena, Deer Park and La Porte.
The watershed is also vulnerable to storm surges from
hurricanes or tropical storms. Structural flooding has
occurred several times in the past.
The watershed hosts the 2,000-acre Armand Bayou Park and
Nature Center at its mouth. An ongoing study is investigating
the possibilities of creating habitat along the upper twothirds of the channel and of linking regional detention sites
and parks in the watershed in order to establish recreational
and habitat corridors.
Armand Bayou
Continued
Things To Do
• Visitors to Armand Bayou Nature Center enjoy a variety of fun and educational
activities. Those who wish to spend a leisurely walk in nature can hike 1 or all 4
trails that take them through the different ecosystems at the nature center. For
those interested in 1890's farm life the Martyn farm house offers a glimpse into
the past. Most weekends someone form our volunteer staff is on site for Q&A.
And no trip to the Nature Center would be complete with out a stop by the Bison
observation deck. Here visitors view the 2 newest members to the Nature Center
Family. In February 2008 we received 2 Bison calves.
• Saturdays at the Nature Center we offer activities that only a nature persevere
can offer. Experience Armand Bayou at water level via a canoe or pontoon boat.
The boat trips are very popular and fill up weeks in advance.
• For the night Owls, not only do we offer a Moon Light pontoon boat cruise we
also give visitors the opportunity to experience the Nature Center's night life.
Encounter the Nature Center's nocturnal residents as they come out to forage for
food.
Armand Bayou
Continued
Drainage Area : 60 Sq. Miles
Watershed Population (in Harris County) : 120,896
Open Stream Miles : 86 Miles
Primary Streams :
Armand Bayou
Horsepen Bayou
Big Island Slough
Willowspring Creek
Spring Gully
Hunting Bayou
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.
Hunting Bayou
Continued
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 flow line is below mean sea level and this reach of the
bayou is tidally influenced.
Hunting Bayou
Continued
Drainage Area : 30 Sq. Miles
Watershed Population (in Harris County) : 91,119
Open Stream Miles : 45 Miles
Primary Streams :
Hunting Bayou
Jackson Bayou
The Jackson Bayou watershed is located in east
Harris County, just east of Lake Houston, and
serves the Crosby and Newport areas. The
watershed covers about 25 square miles and
flows into the San Jacinto River below Lake
Houston via Jackson Bayou. There are about 36
miles of open streams within the watershed,
including the primary stream and tributary
channels. Gum Gully is the largest tributary in
the watershed and drains about 17 square
miles, which is close to 70% of the watershed.
The estimated population within the
watershed is just under 10,000.
Jackson Bayou
Continued
Large portions of the watershed are
still forested and have not been
farmed or developed. Natural wildlife
habitats through the undeveloped
reaches of the bayou are of high
quality and increase the
environmental sensitivity of the entire
watershed.
Jackson Bayou
Continued
Drainage Area : 25 Sq. Miles
Watershed Population (in Harris County) : 9,694
Open Stream Miles : 36 Miles
Primary Streams :
Jackson Bayou
Blue Bayou
Located on 80 acres at I-10 and Highland Road in Baton Rouge, LA right next to
Blue Bayou Water Park, Dixie Landin' is an Amusement Park designed for the
entire family! Dixie Landin' contains 26 rides, 10 games and much, much more.
We have retail shops for you to pick up souvenir t-shirts, hats, cups and many
more items to bring home. Dixie also has a large variety of food items.
One of the feature attractions is the
"Ragin Cajun." A giant steel looping
roller coaster that drops from 14
stories up. Or maybe you are
interested in the "Splinter," our log
flume ride with drops of 26 and 50
feet. Our Giant Wheel stands 90
feet tall and gives you a birds eye
view of the entire park.
White Oak Bayou
The White Oak Bayou watershed is located in central Harris County.
The bayou originates northwest of FM 1960 and flows generally
toward the southeast. The bayou drains areas in northwest portions
of the county as well as the City of Jersey Village and portions of
the City of Houston. White Oak Bayou joins Buffalo Bayou near
downtown Houston.
The watershed covers about 111 square
miles and includes three primary
streams: White Oak Bayou, Little White
Oak Bayou and Cole Creek. Vogel Creek
and Brickhouse Gully are among the
major tributaries in the watershed. There
are about 151 miles of open streams in
the White Oak Bayou watershed,
including the primary and tributary
channels. The estimated population
within the watershed is just over
416,000.
White Oaks Bayou
Continued
Wildlife habitat exists on undeveloped tracts scattered throughout
the watershed and has been preserved and/or created in several of
the large regional stormwater detention basins constructed by the
District. Little undisturbed habitat exists along the urban channels
of White Oak Bayou or its major tributaries.
White Oak Bayou
Continued
Drainage Area : 111 Sq. Miles
Watershed Population (in Harris County) : 416,067
Open Stream Miles : 151 Miles
Primary Streams :
White Oak Bayou
Little White Oak Bayou
Brickhouse Gully
Cole Creek
Vogel Creek
Bayou Bartholomew
Bayou Bartholomew is the longest bayou in
the world. Until the construction of railroad
lines in the area in the late 1800s, it was the
most important stream for transportation in
the interior Delta. It allowed the
development of one of the richest timber
and agricultural industries in the Delta area.
It starts northwest of the city of Pine Bluff,
Arkansas in the Harding community, and
eventually dumps into the Ouachita river in
Louisiana. It is approximately 375 miles
(604 km) long.
Over 100 species of fish have been found in
Bayou Bartholomew making it the second
most diverse stream in North America with
regards to fish. The first inhabitants were
the Native Americans.
Bayou Bartholomew
Continued
Bayou Bartholomew and its watershed shelters a
remarkable assemblage of 117 species of
freshwater fish and at least 40 species of mussels,
including more than half of all mussel species
known in Louisiana and at least three mussel
species currently listed by the federal government
as endangered or threatened.
Much of Bayou Bartholomew’s watershed has
been deforested and converted to croplands, and
a significant portion of its remaining forestland
has been managed over decades for timber
production, thus altering to some extent its forest
composition and structure. Other conservation
concerns include excess sedimentation,
environmental stresses from biocide and irrigation
practices, and illegal dumping.
Buffalo Bayou Current Planning
Buffalo Bayou Current Planning
Buffalo Bayou Current Planning
Buffalo Bayou Current Planning
Resources
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bayou
http://www.bayoupreservation.org
http://www.greensbayouproject.com/
http://www.cedarbayou.com
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jenbachand/2852250754/
http://www.abnc.org
http://www.hcfcd.org
http://www.tsarp.org/
http://www.bluebayou.com/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blue_Bayou
http://www.buffalobayou.org/
http://lucebayou.com
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Oak_Bayou
http://www.hcfcd.org/images/overview_openchannel.jpg
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bayou_Bartholomew
http://www.arkansasstripers.com/bartholomew.htm
http://www.nature.org/wherewework/greatrivers/namerica/