Summer 2003 the Cost of Stormwater Management for Houston

b a y o u A Report for Members and Friends of the Bayou Preservation Association f o r u m Don’tDon’t Shoot the Messenger! Summer by Kevin Shanley the Army Corps of Engineers first showed maps with the Medical Cen- 2003 Later this year many residents and ter in the floodplain and local engi- businesses in Harris County are going neers subsequently had the maps Inside this issue: to get a unpleasant surprise: they are redrawn with the Medical Center Information on T-SARP 2 going to find out that their property drawn outside of the floodplain....!) The Cost of Storm 3 has been recently included in the 100 Water Management year floodplain. Some will get a letter The new Flood Insurance Rate Maps from their mortgage company telling are a messenger with important Executive Director’s 4 them they now need to purchase news. These revised maps are telling HCFCD Partnerships 5 flood insurance. Some will hear about many property owners that they are Sims Bayou Project 6 it through their neighbor- now subject to Update hood grapevine, and others “Special Flood Hazard Carpenters Bayou 7 may attend public hearings Risk” during large to take a look at the new storms that they might Little Thicket Bayou 7 Flood Insurance Rate Maps. not have previously Backyard Bayou 8

known about. They “Mighty Tidy” Trashcat 8 These property owners will may be unhappy with ask many questions: “Why is the news, but they Thank You Donors 9 this happening to me? Why should be grateful that Greens Bayou 9 have they now put me in the flood- someone has told them that they are EarthShare 10 plain when I have never flooded be- at increasing risk of damage from ris- Calendar of Events 11 fore? Why do the floodplains always ing waters; and now they can at least seem to get larger? What will this do to buy flood insurance, or possibly do Save the Date 11 my property values? Why should I something to flood-proof their prop- The Bayou 11 Planting Guide have to start paying for flood insurance erty. now?… I haven’t done anything to de- Our mission is serve it! “ But is there nothing we can do about to protect and the ever-rising floodwater elevations? restore Some commercial property owners About the billions of dollars in dam- the richness will want to know what they can do to ages it seems we suffer every time and diversity have their property removed from the we have a tropical storm? About the of our waterways floodplain maps and they may hire personal loss and disruption of lives through engineering companies to challenge and careers that can’t be measured in activism, advocacy, the lines shown on the maps. (For in- dollars? There is! collaboration stance, this happened around the and education. Medical Center when, in the early 70’s, (Continued on page 2) (Continued from page 1) For more information about the new Floodplain First, we need to recognize that the source of our Maps you can go to the website for the mapping flooding problems originates in the watershed and project: www.tsarp.org (Tropical Storm Allison Re- that solutions to flooding will begin with watershed covery Project). management. We need to demand of our City and County officials that they absolutely prohibit any in- If you would like to see current floodplain maps crease in the amount of water entering our bayous online you can go to the FEMA Flood Map Store and and streams from public and private drainage im- view the map online or order paper or digital cop- provement or development projects; and that regu- ies. Go to www.fema.gov; then click on the FEMA lations need to be tightened and enforcement of Flood Map Store icon on the left side of the page; those regulations needs to be stricter. then click on Map Search on the right side; enter your address; then when you get the Map Search Second, we need to insist that the City create the Result Page click the view button. stormwater storage capacity that we need to keep it out of our houses and businesses. The City can store You can also see scanned floodplain maps online stormwater by building detention basins, by lower- (for Harris, Fort Bend and Montgomery Counties) at ing streets, and by building underground drainage www.efloodmap.com. systems that store water rather than just moving it downstream to the next neighborhood. For general information about our bayous, you can go to the website for the Bayou Preservation Asso- Third, we need to support the City in prohibiting any ciation: www.bayoupreservation.org. reduction of storage capacity in our existing floodplains, whether the reduction is caused by a few large projects that might be granted an exemption or reduction by thousands of small neighborhood Want to find out more about infill projects that fall under the size limits of the TSARP, regulations. the Tropical Storm Allison

Fourth, and lastly, we need a vision and a plan to Recovery Project? manage our watersheds and their bayous and streams for the betterment of all, a plan that will re- TSARP is the project that FEMA and the Harris duce the damages visited upon us by frequent gulf County Flood Control District are doing together storms, and a plan that will, in an increasingly urban using cutting edge technology that will ultimately city, create badly needed parks and open space result in new floodplain maps for Harris around detention basins and along bayous. County. You can find out more about this project at www.tsarp.org. Let’s work together to be sure that as this city grows in size, it also grows in safety and quality of life and If your group or association would like an educa- that it can, without irony, live up to its nickname: tional presentation concerning the new floodplain “The Bayou City”. maps, coming out in draft format later this year, as well as information about how flooding occurs in And don’t fall into the trap of complaining about the Harris County, please contact Alisa Max at the Har- new floodplain maps….they are the messenger ris County Flood Control District at 713-684-4078. bringing important news that it is time to take action! If you have specific questions concerning the TSARP project, please contact the TSARP project ***** office at 281-579-4656.

Page 2 www. bayoupreservation.org Summer 2003 The Cost of Stormwater Management for Houston

Jon Vanden Bosch, Director of Public Works & Engineering De- tion in the Medical Center was 15% of the total stormwa- partment, City of Houston, shared his thoughts on the very ter protection project cost. complex issue of Stormwater Management for the City of Houston with the Bayou Preservation Association (BPA) Board Jon Vanden Bosch predicts that for the above necessary items on 14 July 2003. a factor of 1.4 has to be added to the estimated project cost.

Over the last 15 years the City of Houston has spent approxi- To cover the cost of providing the City of Houston with an mately $15 to $17 million annually on stormwater capital im- “adequate” storm sewer system a fee based arrangement provements. Last year, following the tropical storm “Allison” would offer better accountability than general tax increases. experience, the City of Houston increased this amount to $40 Collection of a proposed Stormwater Utility Fee would pay for million per year over the next 5 years which includes $45 mil- the following approximate annual expenditures: lion of FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) funds, the latter being mainly dedicated to the Medical Center. $40—50 million new construction $40 – 42 million for other costs Stormwater Management Projects (SWMP) are currently being like Operations & Maintenance, NPDES compliance, designed in each Council District and will cost $40 million. debt service on bonds, etc.

Thus far funding for stormwater capital projects is drawn from The above estimates are based on collecting 100% of the pro- the public improvement bond funds which is a funding pool posed fee which is structured to satisfy the State Attorney for street improvements, storm sewers and bridges. Withdraw- General’s stipulation of an equitable relationship between fee als from this lumped-together fund can be used for any of the and assessment i. e. property owners who place a higher im- above public improvements, based on necessity, i.e. the funds pact on the stormwater system pay a higher rate. The pro- are interchangeable. posed fee is approx. $3.50—$5.00 per month for residential properties of less than one acre and up to $75.00/acre/month O&M (Operation & Maintenance) of the existing Storm Sewer for businesses and institutions. The fees will have to be in- System costs approx. $26 million annually and the cost of creased to take into account less than 100% collection and compliance with the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination properties that will be exempt from the fees. To date all state System (NPDES) is currently $5 million annually but very likely owned institutions have already been made exempt from the to rise in the future. To cover shortfalls the general fund of the fee. There are grounds for concern that residential property City of Houston has contributed approximately $8 million per owners may pay the bulk of the cost if too many exemptions year to these costs. are granted.

The engineering firm Turner, Collie & Braden (TC&B) estimated An alternative approach to paying for an improved stormwater in 1999 that the cost of an “adequate” drainage system would system is being discussed. This is to restructure the debt for be $1.2 billion. Such a stormwater system would protect local water/wastewater using repair and rehabilitation funds so that streets from flooding during a 2 year storm and major thor- $50 million per year of new debt would be assumed for 15 oughfares and freeways during a 5 year storm. The TC&B esti- years bringing in $750 million. mate does not take into account the following additional cost items.: For immediate relief from too much stormwater draining into our bayous, Jon Vanden Bosch has established stricter guide- 1. The existing stormwater system is now as much as 50 to lines for new development. 60 years old and needs to be brought up to date. 2. Some recently annexed areas like Kingwood and Clear 1. For properties of less than 1 acre: any fill has to be miti- Creek areas were not included in the TC&B study and gated by cut and the cut has to precede the fill. would increase the total cost by 5 – 10%. 2. Properties of 1 acre and larger require detention. 3. The recently passed “Street Cut” ordinance does not 3. A stormwater quality plan has to be submitted with each allow street patching after installation of new storm sew- construction permit. ers. This results in large yet undetermined increases to the total cost. 4. The newly adopted “no rise” criteria require that detention facilities be purchased, constructed and main- tained. “No rise” means that the City of Houston storm- Editor’s Note: water discharge into the bayous does not cause any rise To learn more about Stormwater Utility around the country, in peak flood water elevation. The cost of creating de- search the web for “Stormwater Utility” (I used Google) and tention facilities (detention basins or in line detention) you will receive an abundance of information . does not come cheap. For example, the cost of deten-

Bayou Forum www. bayoupreservation.org Page 3 Executive Director’sDirector’s ReportReport by Mary Ellen Whitworth counts talk about the abundance of fish in Buffalo Bayou which included Speckled Trout and Buffalo Fish. The United States On May 31, 2003 more than 900 Houstonians participated in Geological Survey conducted an investigation of fish and other the Blueprint Houston Citizen’s Congress to prioritize goals for biological resources in area bayous between the years 1997- the City of Houston. Of the top ten goals, flood management 98. Buffalo Bayou had Bowfin, Spotted Gar, Gizzard and and water quality ranked eight and nine. Threadfin Shad, Minnows, Smallmouth Buffalo, Catfish, Mos- quito Fish, Striped Bass, Sunfish, Mullet, and Drum. Except for That means BPA’s mission continues to be relevant after 37 Minnows and Carp, the number of other species of fish is low. years of activism, advocacy, collaboration and education. Of The USGS study does not investigate the cause for the low fish course the bad news is that we are still relevant. As reported population. . previously, most of our bayous are impaired and do not meet water quality standards. Our Stream Classification System The July, 2003 Texas Parks and Wildlife Magazine focuses on found on our web site shows very few bayous are in pristine the State of Bays including the fish that live in them. Speckled state. And for those bayous that are a priority for protection, trout are the most sought after species on the coast. Biologists we have almost no regulations or ordinances to protect them note the decline in catches of big trout and say the species from damaging development. needs protection. In response the agency adopted new regulations this year that allow one trout, no longer than 25 inches, In reaction to these issues, the BPA has held several strategic to be retained per day. There are also new regulations on the planning meetings to focus our efforts. The meetings resulted amount of fish that can be caught in guided trips. The July, in a 15 to 20 year strategic plan to achieve four goals. The 2003 edition of Scientific American says over fishing has goals are: slashed stocks to an all-time low worldwide. Population booms increase the demand for fish and countries respond with more fishing that is not sustainable. Fish farming is thought ♦ No further degradation of water quality. to be the answer by many, but if fish are fed fish meal they ♦ Reduced flooding due to improvements in watershed actually consume more fish than they produce. Creating no- management. take zones are believed to be the key to preserving declining ♦ A successful stream restoration project that will serve as a species. model for similar projects in Houston and beyond. ♦ BPA serves as a “one-stop shop” for information on Hous- In the long term, BPA would like to see the return of diverse ton area waterways. fish populations to our bayous. This will require improvements in water quality, the return of trees and plants along the bayous Each goal has proposed deliverables, requirements to enable edge, pools and eddies and abundant fish food will help to these deliverables, key milestones and essential metrics for the return our resident fish. It may take 15 years, but it will never next three years to meet our long term vision. We are in the happen if we don’t start now. process of setting up committees and chairs to address our goals.

We thank the following board members for the dedication of their time and knowledge to advance our organization. Gulf Coast Region Kay and Greg Crouch who facilitated the initial strategic planning session with the BPA board. Susan Hill who pre- Water Quality Management Plan pared a comprehensive analysis of our organization as well as Update 2003 strategic planning tools and who facilitated workshops to is now available on the Houston Galveston Area which all board members were invited. Shellye Arnold who led the Strategic Planning Committee and by using her manage- Council (H-GAC) website. The web address is: ment expertise formulated strategic goals and set up new http://www.h-gac.com/NR/rdonlyres/ committee structures. eo63h6m2tlzbaxi4lvwfipoxpvszirqnvdiza6qok2ynl- s3qurn4ucaugyl5fgywktceh2mx6nc5zfqrvfrx7elhdta/2 If you would like to serve on one of our committees, please 003wqmp_draft.pdf call the BPA office at 713-529-6443 or e-mail [email protected]. The report, which was prepared in cooperation with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, is One of the measures of success of healthy bayous is the abun- also available in hard copy at the BPA office. dance and diversity of fish that live in them. Historical ac-

Page 4 www. bayoupreservation.org Summer 2003 HCFCD Partnerships—A Key to Success by Alisa Max, P.E. age infrastructure in the county. However, the District pro- motes multi-use partnerships and these partnerships are The Harris County Flood Control District (“the District”) has emerging throughout the County. Harris County precincts, local many ongoing projects all over the County. Partnerships with cities, management and improvement districts and even the local communities, state and federal agencies and private busi- development community are partnering to use District owned nesses play a vital role in many of those projects. These part- land for recreation, trails and open space to make their com- nerships are important for the District in setting priorities, deter- munity more inviting. The District has interlocal agreements mining community preferences, making District monies go fur- with many entities allowing such usages and encourages multi- ther and finding solutions that are the best fit. In this article, I’ll use whenever possible as a smart use of land resources and tax touch upon three of the most important type of partnerships dollars. for the District: (1) federal partnerships, (2) multi-use partnerships and (3) local partnerships. Local Partnerships The District’s mission statement is: “Strive to provide flood Federal Partnerships damage reduction projects that work with appropriate regard The first kind of partnership the District participates in is federal for community and natural values.” And who knows a commu- partnerships. The District was originally established as a spe- nity and their values better than a community itself? It’s for that cial purpose district whose goal was to bring federal monies reason that the District takes very seriously proposed partner- to the Harris County region for the purpose of providing flood ships with local cities and community groups. Frequently, damage reduction projects. That is still one of our primary these partnerships arise from the community contacting the goals today. Our strongest federal partners are the U.S. Army District to propose a project. Not all such projects will be Corps of Engineers (“the Corps”) and the Federal Emergency funded, but all proposals will be taken seriously if there is a Management Agency (“FEMA”). Currently the District has active flood damage reduction component. Currently the District is Corps-partnership projects along six major bayou systems partnering with several of the Memorial Villages on multiple (Brays, Hunting, White Oak, Sims, Clear Creek & Greens), and is projects including a study of the flooding mechanisms of a in the process of proposing Corps-partnership projects along local ditch (Unit W151-00-00) and how to lessen its flood risks, two additional bayou systems (Halls & lower Buffalo). The as well as on several design and construction projects to District’s partnership with FEMA has led to the Tropical Storm lessen flood risks throughout the Villages. The District is work- Allison Recovery Project, which will result in new floodplain ing with the Greater Greenspoint Management District on a maps for the entire County coming out in draft format later this study of the reach of Greens Bayou in their vicinity and a look at year. These maps are being produced using cutting edge what can be done locally to lessen their flood risks. At the technology and will give us the best approximation yet of prompting of the Cities of West University Place and Southside where 1% probability (100-year) floodplain boundaries lie. Place, the District is performing a study of two local ditches in Another FEMA-partnership project relates to buyout of homes a regional fashion together with the study requestors, the City hopelessly deep in the flood plain. The most active and ex- of Bellaire and the City of Houston. This is just a sampling of tensive program is the Tropical Storm Allison Buyout Program, the partnerships we have with cities and local community in which homes that meet federal requirements, were substan- groups. tially damaged during Allison or have experienced multiple flood insurance claims, are being purchased on a voluntary As the saying goes, when two groups come together you get basis providing the homeowner with an opportunity for a new something greater than the sum of the two parts. The District start (on higher ground) and the community with additional strongly believes that partnerships are vital so as to make sure open space in flood prone areas. Federal partnerships bring that the right projects get done in the right way with proper millions of dollars to the Harris County area for planning, engi- regard to the community’s values. neering and implementing flood damage reduction projects.

Multi-Use Partnerships Do you like to canoe? A second kind of partnership the District participates in is “multi-use”. The District has many kinds of facilities ranging from detention basins to ditches to a wetlands bank. With the “Canoeing Houston’s exception of the wetlands bank, most of these facilities are not Bayous and Creeks” utilized for their intended purposes except for when it rains and immediately thereafter. When the weather is dry, this land can be available for alternate uses if its value to the community a Guide by Erick Ruckstuhl is to be maximized. The District can only spend its monies on can be found at very specific purposes having to do with implementing flood http://www.bayoupreservation.org/ damage reduction projects and maintaining the primary drain- projwateraccess.html

Bayou Forum www. bayoupreservation.org Page 5 Sims Bayou Project isis MoMorere Than HalfwayHalfway CompleteComplete by Alisa Max, P.E. Currently twelve bridge replacements/modifications have been Harris County Flood Control District constructed, with five bridges currently under design, leaving just 3 bridges remaining. The project is over half completed with 10.3 miles of the channel improvements completed from The Harris County Flood Control District (“the District”) is the Mouth of Sims Bayou up to Cullen Blvd. The reach from pleased to announce that many citizens residing in the Sims Cullen Blvd. to State Highway 288 is currently under construc- Bayou watershed now have a lower risk of flooding than in the tion. When the project is completed, channel modifications past. This is because they are benefiting from the construction will extend as far west as Croquet Street (west of Post Oak). of the Sims Bayou Flood Control Project, spearheaded by the Channel construction is expected to be completed by 2009. U. S. Army Corps of Engineers (“the Corps”) with the District serving as its non-federal sponsor. This project has been a great opportunity for the Corps and the District to embrace both community and natural values. Both Sims Bayou has been plagued by flooding in the past. For this entities are glad to be providing flood damage reduction while reason, this channel was identified by both the District and the creating habitat for wildlife along an aesthetically pleasing cor- Corps as an area in need of a flood damage reduction project. ridor. After years of planning and community input, a Local Coopera- tion Agreement between the District and the Corps was signed in 1990, officially starting the project. The Sims Bayou Flood Control Project continues to receive support from our local Congressional delegation that see that the project continues to receive annual federal funding for construction.

The project consists of 19.3 miles of channel enlargements and enhancements, as well as 20 bridge replacements or modifications ex- tending from the Houston Ship Channel to Croquet Street. When complete, approximately 35,000 existing homes and approximately 2,000 existing commercial structures will no longer be in the 1% (100- year) floodplain.

The channel modifications are being done in an environmentally responsible manner, and birds and wildlife can already be seen along completed reaches. This was accomplished by using articulated concrete block mats instead of concrete, and allowing grass and other vegetation to In addition to the federal project, the District will construct grow through the blocks. Instead of a trapezoidal channel three regional detention basins within the Sims Bayou water- section, the new sections of Sims Bayou have shelves creating shed. Initial construction of two of the basins was completed, plateaus, varying water widths and varying side slopes, creat- allowing partial reduction in flood risks to structures along the ing a more naturalistic feel. Fish pools are being created along upstream project reaches prior to the channel modifications some reaches of the channel and trees are being planted to reaching them. The third basin, named the Hill at Sims Green- further enhance the value of the habitat. “Input from the Sims way, planned to begin construction early next year, is being Bayou Coalition and public meetings was instrumental to the designed with recreational amenities. Upon completion of Corps and District in accomplishing design changes that pro- both the federal project and these three detention basins, the vided a more environmentally sensitive, aesthetic pleasing, and 1% floodplain will remain within banks. publicly acceptable project, “ said Lizette Richardson, Corps of Engineers Project Manager for the Sims Bayou project. Public input has been vital throughout the process. If you would like more information or would like to comment about The channel design was selected based on significant input the Sims Bayou project, please contact the local project spon- received from the Sims Bayou community. sor at the District’s federal project hotline at 713-684-4040.

Page 6 www. bayoupreservation.org Summer 2003 Carpenters Bayou Little Thicket Bayou by Tom Olson - Work in Progress - Work in Progress Carpenters Bayou continues to be making slow progress to- ward “stabilization” of its watershed.

Texas Parks and Wildlife staff continues to meet with representatives of the HAWC regarding release of water from the North- east Water Treatment Plant that is under construction. The release of water during the winter months would replicate natural flows in the shallow Carpenters Bayou channel that have been significantly reduced by development in recent years.

Complementary negotiations with Summerwood development have resulted in Summerwood’s modification of the drainage and culverts in the subdivision to accommodate rather than divert this water as was previously done.

Negotiations continue with McCord Properties regarding the Observation deck overlooking Little Thicket Bayou large acreage they own on the NE side of the park. Purchase of The BPA is just completing the first step of our restoration pro- a “bed and banks” permit for the bayou channel north of the ject in Little Thicket Bayou Park, which is part of the original park would help protect this reach of the bayou from deleteri- White Oak channel that was cut off by the Corps channel in the ous effects of potential development on that site. 60's. Funded mostly by the Galveston Bay Estuary Program and partly by a US Fish and Wildlife grant, this first step included Final negotiations with the City of Houston regarding use of preparing an analysis and master plan for the restoration of the water from the West Canal aqueduct to provide inflow to Shel- old channel, for water quality improvement and erosion con- don Lake during dry periods is also pending. A new valve to trol, and for providing habitat improvements and community the lake was installed in 2002 with funding from Ducks Unlim- outreach and education. ited, but the project’s completion is waiting for modifications The master plan, prepared by the stream restoration to the inflow meter requested by the City after the project’s firm of Biohabitats, identified ways to bring the channel back completion. into balance with its now altered watershed. Eagle Scouts have installed several interpretive and habitat improvement projects Due to wet weather in 2001 and 2002 plus our recent June and community groups have organized several trash cleanups, rains, there has been no need for this supplemental water from trail maintenance and have begun the process of extirpating the aqueduct. In fact, park staff is hoping the lake will dry exotic species. down significantly before mid-August (rather than forcing them The landscape firm of Mckinnon Associates is install- to partially drain it) to better enable them to control new inva- ing a bird-watching overlook deck, a switchback trail down to sions of giant salvinia and water hyacinth on the lake. the wooded floodplain, and demonstration bioswales to im- prove the water quality of drainage running from the neighbor- Fundraising for the completion of the master plan for Sheldon hood into the bayou. Lake State Park & Environmental Learning Center is ongoing. The (continued Page 7 bottom left) best hope for Sheldon Lake is that fundraising or partnerships will soon permit the partial drainage and major deepening and re-sculpting of the lake needed to create better fish and wildlife habitat, allow better recreational use of the lake by people, and push back or control both the harmful exotic species and the excessive encroachment of several native species that currently cover 75% of the lake surface in the summer.

(Little Thicket Bayou continued)

Many thanks to our funders and to the volunteers from the BPA, the White Oak Bayou Association and from the sur- rounding neighborhoods. We are looking forward to the next small steps of continuing the habitat improvements and im- proving trail access, and to the next big steps of actually con- structing the stream restoration elements in the old channel remnant. Landscape Architect Mark Mckinnon inspecting one of several bioswales

Bayou Forum www. bayoupreservation.org Page 7 Backyard BayousBayous

Beauty or Beast

Houston, the Bayou City, with over 4000 miles of interlacing waterways offers more homeowners waterfront opportunities than any other city in Texas, maybe the nation. Waterfront properties should fetch a premium. Sadly, here in Houston waterfront has largely been viewed as a beast to be screened, ignored or even worse, used as a dump. Beastly bank erosion creeps to threaten the footprint of the house while introduced invasive species smother the indigenous vegetation furthering erosion.

The wilds today must be managed. The ability to move on or move the footprint of the house is not an option. Consistent tender loving care over time can change the beast into a beauty and with neighborly cooperation create a contiguous naturescape along the waterways. This requires dissemination of information that the unique and fragile riparian zones demand in order to be pre- served. BPA has a plethora of materials from which to draw. To this end Hilshire Village Garden Gatherers is holding a brainstorm- ing session, Saturday, August 23, at 9 am, at 9 Pine Creek Lane. Together we can eradicate the beast and make Houston, City of Beautiful Bayous a reality not just a fantasy.

Photographs & Text by Janosik F. Polisensky, Hilshire Village Resident. Buffalo Bayou Partnership’s “Mighty Tidy”Tidy” TrashcatTrashcat

The Buffalo Bayou Partnership along with Port of Houston Authority, Harris County Supplemental Environmental Program, Harris County Flood Control Dis- trict and City of Houston Environmental Investigation Unit launched “Mighty Tidy”, the Bayou’s new Trashcat, on June 12, 2003.The boat is designed to skim refuse along the banks of Buffalo Bayou.

This whimsical hot pink public art project, created by The Art Guys, can be seen looking for trash with its cartoon-like eyes five days a week from Shepherd Drive to the East Loop 610. In addition to cap- turing debris washed into the bayou from storm drains and street runoff, the boat will be equipped with special attachments to remove trash located in trees and on the bayou banks.

The Skimmer Boat, a 21-foot garbage guzzler, is part of phase one of the Buffalo Bayou Partnership’s 20-year Master Plan, Buffalo Bayou and Beyond. The Mighty Tidy is the Partnership’s first step in help- ing to restore Buffalo Bayou to an ecologically functional system. Haley Hendrix, a second grader from Lamkin Elementary, gave the Trashcat its name after winning the Skimmer boat naming contest. Special thanks to Whole Foods Market and Southwest Bank of Texas for sponsoring the Skimmer Boat naming program.

To learn more about the Buffalo Bayou Partnership go to: http://www.buffalobayou.org/

Page 8 www. bayoupreservation.org Summer 2003 Thank You Donors for Your Generous Support

Earth Share of Texas George and Mary Josephine Hamman Foundation Harris and Eliza Kempner Fund Jacob and Terese Hershey Foundation Natex Corporation Shell Oil Co. Foundation The Brown Foundation, Inc. The Wortham Foundation Jennifer Langdon Richard S. Atmar, AIA Shelly & Mark Marmon Ann Best Preston Moore, Jr. John Bos & Wende Clemence Jan and Diana Polisensky Duane Bradshaw, Duane Bradshaw Architects R. Thomas Sankey & Pamela Sellen Sankey Ellen Carter Stephen and Jill Satterwhite Lorraine Cherry Louis H. Skidmore, Jr. AIA Pat and Douglas Eberling Nancy and Peter Thompson David N. Faulkner, Jr. Anne Tincher Elaine Finger Eliot P. and Diane D. Tucker Ken Goodman Ofelia S.Vanden Bosch William WardJones Carolina Weitzman Richard N.Kauth Perrin W. & Deanne White Susan B. Keeton Page S. Williams (For Donations received since our Spring 2003 Newsletter)

David High, the BPA Greens Bayou Watershed Representative, found this Greens Bayou Canoeing article on the worldwide web at http://www.tamug.tamu.edu/paddler/greensbayou.html and liked it so much that he wants to share it with our readers.

Green's Bayou is another of our paddle- able city bayous. It forms a part of the city of Houston's easternmost limits, east of the 610 loop, and is easily ac- cessible.

Like many of Houston's bayous, the flow rate here is normally very slow, so the trip described is an "out and back" trip. From the putin, paddle upstream to the Wallisville road crossing, and then head back downstream to the park from which you started. This is approximately 4 miles up and 4 miles back for a total round trip distance of 8 miles.

A lot of the trip is through private backyards, but there are natural areas where young cypress trees are growing. Much larger older trees stand as bare skeletons and possibly serve as woodpecker nesting sites. They are riddled with holes. Higher elevations along the banks are covered with pine trees. This is a nice trip for as long or short a time as you have for a local paddle. Upper reaches are worthy of more exploration, but their accessibility and physical attributes are not known to this writer. You will see many aquatic birds along Green's Bayou. Kingfishers, great egrets, snowy egrets, and great blue herons frequent its banks. Directions: From the Uvalde exit of I-10 (east of downtown Houston), head west of the feeder road to Westmont Street. Turn right (north) there and follow Westmont about .5 mile through this neighborhood. Greens Bayou park will be on your left: turn in there to park and put your boat in the water.

Bayou Forum www. bayoupreservation.org Page 9 Past Presidents Board of Directors Susan Hill Hugh Barrett Bill Bradshaw LaWanda House Bob Arthur Don Green George Mitchell Harriet Latimer Shellye Arnold Don Sawtelle Frank C. Smith Mitch Mathis Judy Boyce Cathy Meek Winfield M. Campbell Judy Meyer Executive Committee James Coatsworth Peter Meyer Don Sawtelle, Chairman of the Board Allen B. Craig Lisa Morano Kevin Shanley, President Greg Crouch Peter Nett Terry Hershey, Vice President Anne Day Rebecca Olive Lynn B. Johnson, Vice President Bill Dupre Melvin Spinks David Parkhill, Vice President Elaine Finger Judy Meyer Hugh Barrett, Treasurer Theo Glanton Sellers Thomas, Jr. Colleen O’Brien, Secretary Joseph Goldman, PhD Melvin Spinks, P. E. Janet Wagner, Asst. Secretary Deborah Hartman Ofelia S. Vanden Bosch Richard P. Cate, Director at Large Bruce Heiberg J. Tynan Kelly, Director at Large Don van Sickle Jr. Carolyn White Watershed Representatives Advisory Board Armand Bayou Helen Hodges Glenda Barrett, The Park People Brays Bayou Jack Stopnicki Theresa Battenfiield, City of Houston Buffalo Bayou Claire P. Caudill Pamela Berger, Mayor’s Office Carpenter’s Bayou Tom Olson Mark Bowen, Living Art Landscapes Clear Creek Mona Shoup Mary Carter, Blackburn & Carter Cypress Creek Eric Ruckstuhl David Crossley, Gulf Coast Institute Dickinson Bayou Carol Springer-Kelly Mike Garver, Buffalo Bayou Partnership Greens Bayou David High Diana Herrera, FEMA Halls Bayou Terry Hershey Jim Lester, Houston Advanced Research Center Hunting Bayou Merrie Talley-Pope Mike Loomis, Texas Association of Floodplain Managers Sims Bayou Evelyn Merz Carl Masterson, HGAC White Oak Bayou Evelyn Shanley Rob Rowland, Houston Parks Board Jim Pulliam, White Oak Bayou Association Staff Commissioner Steve Radack, Precinct 3 Mary Ellen Whitworth Executive Director Art Storey, Harris County Public Infrastructure Jennifer Hawkins Development Coordinator Mike Talbott, HCFCD Fred Lazare CPA Brenda Weiser, Environmental Institute of Houston

Newsletter Evelyn Born Shanley—Phone: 713-864-1548 Fax: 713-869-9906 email: [email protected]

BPA is a member of Earth Share.

Earth Share of Texas is a federation of 70 nonprofit environmental groups who have joined together to participate in workplace The Bayou Preservation Association together with giving programs. Texas Association of Floodplain Managers, Lower Colorado River Authority and Harris County Flood Through a payroll deduction program, Earth Share offers employers and employees interested in human Control District have published health and the environment an opportunity to sup- Floodplain Management in Texas Quick Guide port BPA and organizations like ours. by Rebecca C. Quinn, President, RCQuinn Consulting, Inc.

The BPA will have 1,100 copies of this technical guide available If you would like your company to consider offering for distribution to Floodplain Administrators and interested Earth Share as an option for employee giving, please professionals. The Quick Guide will help you understand more contact our BPA Earth Share representative: about why and how communities in the State of Texas manage floodplains to protect people and property. If you would like Susan Hill at 713-541-0447 a copy please call the BPA office at 713-529-6443. or by e-mail at [email protected].

Page 10 www. bayoupreservation.org Summer 2003 20032003 CalendarCalendar ofof Eventss Go to www.cechouston.org and choose “Calendar” for more event information in our area.

August

9 How is Our Water University of Houston, Clear Lake 9:00 to 15:00 877-506-1401 contact Terry Wendland at above number 11 BPA Executive Committee Meeting BPA Offices 18:00 713-529-6443 20 The Greening of Houston - Part 2 - RDA Museum of Fine Arts 19:00 713-348-4876

September 8 BPA Board Meeting Houston Arboretrum 12:00 Noon 713-529-6443 13 Buffalo Bayou Canoe Tour Buffalo Bayou Partnership 14:00 to 19:00 713-752-0314 20 Katy Prarie Conservancy Fall Open Tour Reservations Required 8:00 to 12:00 713-523-6135 22 Harris County Flood Control Task Force Mtg Harris County Flood Control Dist. 9900 Northwest Freeway, Room 100 14:00 to 16:00 713-684-4000 23 Water for People and the Environment University of Houston - Hilton 512-477-1729 October

11 Freestyle Canoeing Championship American Canoe Club [email protected] 281-494-7977 13 BPA Executive Committee Meeting BPA Offices 18:00 713-529-6443 15 Urban Harvest - 10th Anniversary Gala Houstonian Hotel 18:30 713-880-5540 contact Elizabeth Proctor at above number December 15 Harris County Flood Control Task Force Mtg Harris County Flood Control Dist. 14:00 to 16:00 713-684-4000 9900 Northwest Freeway, Room 100

Save the Date: WednesWednesdadayy November 5, 2003—6:30 pm Fiesta A festive evening of celebration, San Felipe featuring casual dining, margaritas, mariachis and other special treats on the beautiful grounds of Marjorie Milby’s home Honorary Chairs: Chairs: along the banks of Buffalo Bayou. Katherine and Frank Smith Homoiselle and Carlos Bujosa For more information, please call 713-529-6443

How to obtain your own copy of The Bayou Planting Guide: Written by Houston Horticulturist Mark Bowen and funded by the Texas Forest Service

1. Use the form on the back side of this newsletter and donate $100 or more to the BPA and you will receive a free copy.

2. Call Riverbend Publishing Company at 713-621-3468 and order a copy for $8.50 which includes tax, postage & handling.

We thank DOWNTOWN DUPLICATING 713-659-8295 for doing a great job!

Bayou Forum www. bayoupreservation.org Page 11

NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION US POSTAGE PAID HOUSTON, TEXAS PERMIT NO. 853

Post Office Box 131563 Houston, Texas 77219-1563 Phone: 713-529-6443 Fax: 713-529-6481 Email: [email protected] www. bayoupreservation.org

————————– clip here and attach to your donation ————————————————————

Please support our efforts to ensure the proper stewardship of our watercourses throughout the “Bayou City.”

Name: ______Home Phone: ______

Address: ______Work Phone: ______

City/State/Zip: ______e-mail: ______

How would you like to volunteer your time and talents to assist us? If interested, please specify ONE: Fund-Raising ______Recruiting Volunteers ____ Canoe Launches_____ Citizen Education ____ Office Management _____ Bayou Clean-Up_____ Kids on the Bayou ____ Bayou Monitoring ____ Planting Along Our Bayous ____

Mail this form with your check or credit card instructions for the amount indicated: $1,000___ $500____ $250____ $100____ $50____ $35____ Other: ____ Your gift will be used for the following purposes: Education, Water Quality, Habitat Restoration and Bayou Health.

____ My check is enclosed payable to Bayou Preservation Association ____ Please charge my Credit Card __ Visa __ MC __ American Express

Card No. ______Expiry Date ___/___ Signature ______

Bayou Preservation Association, Inc., is a 501(c)(3), tax-exempt organization. Page 12 Contributionswww. bayoupreservation.org are tax-deductible Summer 2003