Bayous / Waterways
Harris County's Bayou System Is Part of Its Flood Defense
Harris County's system of bayous — including Buffalo, Brays, White Oak, and Greens — drains the flat coastal plain toward Galveston Bay.
Bayous are slow-moving, low-gradient streams typical of the Gulf Coast. In Harris County, these waterways drain the city and surrounding areas. The Harris County Flood Control District maintains hundreds of miles of bayou channels to reduce flooding.
Many of the bayous also have hike-and-bike trails along their banks. The Buffalo Bayou Greenway and Brays Bayou Greenway are examples of publicly accessible trail systems. Because the land is very flat, the bayous flood quickly in heavy rain. Know which bayou is near your home and check HCFCD's interactive map at hcfcd.org to see its flood management status.
Source to confirm: HCFCD – Interactive Mapping Tools