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Save Horsepen Bayou

Harris County Flood District Announcement

Project Status Update - 12/19/2023

"The Flood Control District has continued to analyze alternatives to and benefits of the Channel Conveyance Improvements along Horsepen Bayou project, applying updated data for the area. As part of the continued analysis and review, engineers considered the completed portions of Exploration Green, which were not constructed when the study was initiated in 2019.

After incorporating this and other updated data, it became clear that the benefits of this potential project along Horsepen Bayou are greatly reduced. With this information, and in keeping with a commitment to the responsible use of public funds, the Flood Control District will not advance the Channel Improvements along Horsepen Bayou Project to construction. If conditions evolve, the Flood Control District may reconsider a project or other drainage improvements in the area in the future."

https://www.hcfcd.org/Find-Your-Watershed/Armand-Bayou/CI-023-Channel-Conveyance

Website Editor Note - The cancellation of this project was only possible because of the combined efforts of every supporter. Your phone calls, emails, letters, and petition signatures got the attention of the Public Officials. The tremendous display of yard signs sent a message to the decision makers that the supporters were united in their desire to not spend taxpayer money unnecessarily and to preserve our beautiful bayou and greenspace. Thank you to everyone who stood up to say "Save Horsepen Bayou".

What is Happening to Horsepen Bayou?

SaveHorsepenBayou.org is now SaveHorsepenBayou.com

Planned Destruction

Horsepen Bayou is scheduled for a construction project that would drastically change the natural environment.

Almost all trees and vegetation will be removed from both banks and the greenspace up to the homeowners’ property lines.
The bayou is scheduled to be drained for dredging work and steep slopes constructed along both sides.
Wildlife will be displaced by the removal of their natural habitat.
The area will essentially become a retention ditch for upstream flooding.

Who is Doing the Project?

This project is being done by the Harris County Flood Control District.

The project as it is depicted on the HCFCD website is drastically different from the actuality of the construction documents that were acquired from HCFCD via a Public Information Request. The construction drawings show exactly what will be done and the great degree of devastation that is planned. A vivid illustration of exactly how the construction will affect all of the homes in the neighborhoods along the bayou from The Oaks to Brook Forest can be seen in a graphic overlay of the construction plans on a view of the affected neighborhoods on Google Maps. The effect on the greenspace landscape is highlighted in a Horsepen Bayou Destruction map.

All diagrams are available and downloadable directly from this site.

Are there Alternatives?

There are alternative options available for flood control that would not destroy the ecosystem and the natural beauty of the area. The recent completion of Exploration Green has not been calculated, in its entirety, into the flood reduction equation and might possibly make the need for additional mitigation unnecessary. Plus, there are options for retention ponds to be built upstream that could be utilized for flood control instead. There are options that would leave Horsepen Bayou unscarred.

Why is it Important to Save Horsepen Bayou?

Horsepen Bayou is a stunning glimpse into two increasingly rare riparian coast ecosystems.

More than 220 species of birds are found in the area, including multiple varieties of Hawks, Osprey, Roseate Spoonbills, various egrets, herons, ducks, and Pelicans. Many alligators and multiple species of turtles live and breed along the bayou. Common sightings include opossum, coyote, deer, armadillo, and rabbits. The bald eagle can even be seen as you kayak or canoe the length of the bayou.

There are also five Native American Archaeological Sites (41HR532, 41HR533, 41HR534, 41HR535 and 41HR536) along the banks of Horsepen Bayou; three are listed as protected by the Texas Historical Commission.

Once Horsepen Bayou has been destroyed by the construction, the natural habitat and the Native American archeological sites will be lost forever.

How Can I Help?

If you could contact the people listed below to express your support for saving the bayou and if you could encourage others in your organization to do the same, we would greatly appreciate it.

Tina Petersen, Executive Director, Harris County Flood Control District, 9900 Northwest Freeway, Houston, Tx 77092, 713-684-4000, Tina.Petersen@hcfcd.hctx.net
Commissioner Adrian Garcia, Harris County Precinct 2, 1001 Preston St, #924, Houston, TX 77002, 713-274-2222 or 713-755-6220, commissioner@pct2.hctx.net
Representative Dennis Paul, 17225 E. Camino Real Blvd., Suite 415, Houston, TX 77058, 281-488-8900, Dennis.Paul@house.texas.gov
Senator Mayes Middleton, 2101 Mechanic St., Suite 245, Galveston, TX 77550, 409-621-5060 or 512-463-0111, mayes.middleton@senate.texas.gov
Governor Greg Abbott, Texas, P.O. Box 12428, Austin, TX 78711, 512-463-2000, email located at https://gov.texas.gov/apps/contact-us/assistance
Senator Ted Cruz, U.S. Senate, 300 E. 8th, Suite 961, Austin, TX, 78701, 512-916-5834, email located at http://www.cruz.senate.gov/contact
Senator John Cornyn, Chase Tower, 221 West Sixth Street, Suite 1530, Austin, TX 78701, 512-469-6034, email located at http://www.cornyn.senate.gov/contact
Representative Brian Babin, U.S. House of Representatives, 2236 Rayburn, HOB, Washington, DC 20515, 202-225-1555, email located at https://babin.house.gov
Senator Paul Bettencourt, Texas State Senate, P.O. Box 12068, Capital Station, Austin, TX 78711, 78711, 512-463-0107, email located at http://www.senate.texas.gov/member.php?d=7
Commissioner Lesley Briones, Harris County, 1001 Preston, Suite 950, Houston, TX 77002, 832-927-4444, service@hcp4.net
Commissioner Tom Ramsey, Harris County, 1001 Preston, Suite 924, Houston, TX 77002, 713-274-3000, pct3@pc3.com
Commissioner Rodney Ellis, Harris County, 1001 Preston, 9th Floor, Houston, TX 77002, 713-274-1000, Comm_Ellis@cp2.tctx.net

Phone Call and Letter Examples

Examples of Phone Calls and Letters can be found of the FAQ page.

Who is Save Horsepen Bayou.com?

A group of local homeowners is working to bring attention to this project and Save Horsepen Bayou. We are not against flood mitigation. However, we feel there is an approach to reducing flood risk that would be less destructive to the area and preserve the natural beauty. We hope you will join us in opposing the destruction of Horsepen Bayou.

Display Your Support Yard Signs Are Available

Sign Distribution

Because the HCFCD Horsepen Bayou project has been cancelled, we are no longer taking requests and distributing signs. Thank you to everyone who requested and displayed a sign to show their support.

Place your Request

Request a yard sign by emailing SaveHorsepenBayou@gmail.com or by clicking on the Dialog Button in the lower right-hand corner of this page. Be sure to include your street address and a sign will be delivered to your front door while supplies last. Due to high demand, we are currently having to limit signs to one per address.

History of Horsepen Bayou

Early History

In the 18th century, the Spanish and French explored the area and traded with the Orcoquiza (Akokisa) Indians. During the early 19th Century Anglo-Americans settled the region and obtained Mexican land grants. After the Battle of San Jacinto many of the Texans received land from the Republic of Texas. One Land Grant was the Thomas Earle, Jr., Headright of 1176 acres. The stream running through grant was described as: “Rising in Southeast Harris County, Horse Pen Bayou flows east about 6 miles to empty into Armand (Middle Bayou)." A homestead was built that included improvements. Michael McCormick (a teenage hero of the Battle of San Jacinto was granted 1476 acres on Horsepen Bay and Sarah Deel Wilson and her husband Robert owned adjoining leagues, but they never lived on the property.

The first known ranchers having large herds of cattle and horses in the area were the Dobies. Sterling and Robert Dobie and their families made their home and ranch on the William Dobie land-grant on Middle Bayou. In 1857, the Dobie brothers sold their land to Samuel W. Allen for $8,500, to include the cattle as they ran and did not warrant them to numbers.

Discovery of Native American Cultural Sites

In 1985, the Friendswood Development Company contracted the Archaeologist William L. Fullen to survey Horsepen Bayou. During the survey Fullen discovered significant Native American Cultural Sites along the Bayou. He recommended that Archaeological Sites 41HR532, 41HR533, 41HR534, 41HR535 and 41HR536 be nominated as State Archeological Landmarks in order for them to be managed as publicly owned cultural resources. William L. Fullen states in his report of the survey that both banks of Horsepen Bayou should be preserved due to the likelihood of the existence of additional Native American sites along the waterway.

Archaeological Sites 41HR532, 41HR533, 41HR534, 41HR535 and 41HR536 are currently listed Texas Archeological sites. Three are protected State Archeological Landmarks under oversight of the Texas Historical Commission.

Current Day

Horsepen Bayou currently runs through a beautiful greenspace of trees and vegetation that is home and breeding ground of many wildlife species. It is enjoyed by visitors who hike the banks of the waterway, bird watch, fish recreationally, or travel the length by canoe or kayak.

About Save Horsepen Bayou

What We Support

Save Horsepen Bayou advocates for the preservation of Horsepen Bayou, a beautiful natural stream and a critical wildlife habitat in this area for many species of fish, amphibians, reptiles, and mammals. A particularly breath-taking sight along the bayou and its banks is the prevalence and diversity of avian species of waterfowl and migratory birds, including the American Bald Eagle.

Save Horsepen Bayou also advocates for the preservation of the three State-protected archeological sites on the banks of the bayou. Although the exact location of each of the sites has not been publically disclosed in an effort to prevent treasure hunters from raiding the sites, the Texas Historical Commission has confirmed the existence and the registration of each site with the State of Texas. Artifacts dating from the period between 100-400 AD have been discovered along the banks of Horsepen Bayou.

Save Horsepen Bayou supports careful planning and engineering design in flood mitigation projects that utilize community and natural considerations. A project should not cause more destruction to a community that a catastrophic storm would create. A striking example of flood mitigation success is Exploration Green! That project, a series of five detention basins that can collectively contain a half-billion gallons of storm water, virtually eliminates the risk of flooding from the majority of homes and businesses located within the Horsepen Bayou watershed.