Overview
Bayou Preservation works to celebrate, protect, and restore Houston's bayous and streams. We run four main programs that help care for our waterways. We also work on special projects that help multiple programs at once, like our yearly Symposium and ways we share information with the community.
Since 1966, we've partnered with hundreds of thousands of neighbors to keep our bayous healthy and beautiful. We're different because we care about every bayou and stream in our area. We also work with groups that focus on one specific bayou. Together, we create projects that bring people together and help everyone learn why our waterways matter.
We believe our bayous are treasures worth protecting. They give us places to play, connect with nature, and build community. Our team works with neighbors, other organizations, and local leaders to make sure our water stays clean and our land stays wild. When we take care of our bayous today, we protect Houston's future.
Why it matters
Who gets included matters. Who gets heard matters. Who benefits from the decisions made in your city matters. Inclusion isn't just a value — it's a measure of how well a community is actually working. When more people are in the room, better decisions get made. For everyone.
“Since 1966, Bayou Preservation has worked with Houston neighbors to celebrate, protect, and restore our bayous.”
Who this is for
You've felt left out or overlooked
Find organizations and resources that center people who are often pushed to the margins.
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Deepen your understanding of systemic barriers and the work being done to dismantle them.
You want your community to be more inclusive
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What the data shows in ZIP 77012
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Our Focus
Bayou Preservation focuses on four key programs to accomplish its mission to “celebrate, protect, and restore the natural richness of all our bayous and streams.” Cross-cutting projects and initiatives – those that address the goals of more than one program – also continue, such as the annual Symposium, public policy review and response, and communications tools.
Commitment Flows to all Our Watersheds
At Bayou Preservation, we are dedicated to developing collaborative projects and enhancing public awareness about the region's streams and bayous in order to advance watershed management, conservation, and recreation along these invaluable natural resources. We are unique in that we support all of the area bayous and waterways while also collaborating with groups that concentrate on a specific bayou and its watershed. Since 1966, we’ve worked with hundreds of thousands neighbors to celebrate, protect and restore our natural environment.
Preserving Our Bayous
With more than 2,500 miles of waterways, Houston truly is “The Bayou City”. These hidden gems are a visual focal point of many parts of our city, a place for relaxation and an attractive escape from the stresses of urban life. By protecting and preserving our bayous, we can create ribbons of green that provide recreational opportunities for neighborhoods while providing the natural protection from flooding our city needs.
Promoting Water Quality
Throughout our state, waterways are being added to the list of impaired waters each year. This has led to a water quality restoration process that seeks to understand how much bacteria enters our bayous, the sources and types of bacteria, and their effects on humans and wildlife, and how those sources can be reduced. In a fast growing urban area like Houston, it is critical to understand our watersheds and the factors that affect water quality. We are committed to working with partners, policy makers, and local governments to solve water quality issues.
Our Vision in Action
The beauty of our vision for the Houston-Gulf Coast region’s bayous and waterways is in its simplicity. Based on goals and objectives, we envision transforming the region we love into one that is nationally recognized for its quality of life.