Bayous
There are more than 800 miles of natural streams and 3,000 miles of human-made chan-nels within the watersheds that drain Harris County. Before development, clean water flowed through the winding, tree-lined bayous of the Gulf Coast region. Although the bayous are still one of Houston's defining natural resources, they have changed dramatically.

Water Quality
Non-point source pollution or "the pollution from unknown sources found in urban runoff" has degraded the water in most area bayous. Many streams do not meet state water quality standards. Fecal coliform and suspended particles are two of the most significant pollutants in the region's waterways.

Alteration
Development has encroached on the region's bayous. For years, residents have built close to the waterways in the natural flood plain. In order to control flooding, many bayous were dredged or cemented over, and vegetation was removed. Although the bayous do play an important part in storm water management and flood control, many believe this function should be balanced against their importance as wildlife habitat and open space for recreation.

Back to Nature
Several environmental organizations are working to put nature back in the region's bayous. Replanting trees and native vegetation beautifies and provides habitat. Discouraging development near waterways helps control flooding and reduces nonpoint source pollution. Some also advocate enhancing the bayous for recreation and transportation purposes. Parks, athletic fields, and hike and bike trails along the streambeds (rather than housing and businesses) can improve quality of life, reduce flooding, and filter urban runoff. Water quality monitoring is also essential to identify and con-trol point and non-point source pollution.

Recent Progress
Buffalo Bayou Development Guidelines
In September 2002, the Buffalo Bayou Partnership presented a 20-year plan to turn the bayou into a pedestrian-oriented water-front district. The plan was the culmination of an 18-month study co-sponsored by the City of Houston, Harris County, and the Harris County Flood Control District to ensure that Buffalo Bayou's downtown section is developed responsibly. The theme of the master plan is balancing conservation with development while focusing on flood control and affordable housing.

Allen’s Landing
The City of Houston, Harris County, and Buffalo Bayou Partnership recently announced plans to redevelop Allen's Landing, a historic tract on Buffalo Bayou just east of Main Street below Commerce Street. Improvements include bulkhead stabilization, hike and bike trail development, and landscaping.

Waterway maps, photos, and stream ranking
The Bayou Preservation Association has col-lected a set of maps of the waterways in the region, available on their website at www.bayoupreservation.org. BPA also completed a project this year to rank each waterway by its status (e.g., streams in their natural state, streams that have been substantially modified).

What You Can Do
Enjoy your bayous
Walk along a bayou or take advantage of a newly installed canoe launch.

Reduce non-point source pollution
Fix automobile leaks, dispose of motor oil and other household hazardous wastes properly, and reduce or eliminate use of lawn pesticides and fertilizers. Never dump anything in a storm drain.

Volunteer for the bayous
Several local organizations work to protect and enhance the area's bayous. They sponsor regular clean-ups, tree plantings, and water quality monitoring programs. Call the Bayou Preservation Association at (7