A Geology Study <\/a>of Buffalo Bayou<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Zombie Memorial Groves in Memorial Park \u2013 Comment and Petition<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n Flood Control Proposes a Tax Increase<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Oct. 7, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n The massive loblolly pine was lying across the path in the bayou woods. A regal giant downed by the monster winds of Hurricane Beryl. It was a profoundly sad sight.<\/p>\n\n\n We hadn\u2019t been to the woods in this part of Houston\u2019s Memorial Park<\/a> since the storm in July. We were there to take our seasonal fall photo of that bend in the bayou from a high bank located off the Picnic Loop in the southeast side of the park. You can see the entire series of photos here<\/a>. We\u2019ve been documenting the bend from the same spot throughout the seasons for the last ten years \u2013 ever since Save Buffalo Bayou was founded to protect this stretch of the river<\/a>, one of the only remaining natural stretches of the bayou\u2019s riparian forest accessible to the public.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Because that broad-based effort was successful in stopping the bulldozing and landscaping of the park\u2019s banks<\/a>, the geologic history of the region is still visible. Using as a foundation the work of our board member, geologist Tom Helm<\/a>, the Houston Geological Society has recently published a paper on that geology<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n We entered the woods, passing by the familiar pile of century-old cement sewer line junk from Camp Logan<\/a>. The first shock was the amount of vegetation that had been cleared \u2013 by the storm and by humans. Now we could easily see into the open right-of-way where poles and power lines traverse the park from east to west.<\/p>\n\n\n The woods were not exactly lush. We\u2019ve had record heat and violent weather. Before Beryl ripped through in July, we had a nightmarish derecho<\/a> in May. The region is still in a state of abnormally hot and dry weather<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But as we stepped down the soft sandy path just after sunrise, the woods were surprisingly cool.<\/p>\n\n\n We took some photos and walked east towards the lovely winding creek that drains from the center of the park, flowing under Memorial Drive south towards the bayou. Its mouth where it enters the river was stuffed with debris \u2013 branches and bits of trash.<\/p>\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n At least we still have these wild woods for now.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But the 2015 Master Plan<\/a> for our city\u2019s great Memorial Park includes a deeply unpopular project that many assumed had been cast aside. Apparently it\u2019s still alive. But you can sign a petition opposing it here<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Called Memorial Groves<\/a>, the proposal would replace some 100 acres of prairie and wild woods on the northwest side of the park with a landscaped lawn and rigid rows of pine trees. It would also feature parking lots and constructed exercise\/play areas mimicking military training routines. It\u2019s a horrible idea. Among other things, we don\u2019t need more concrete with money-grubbing parking machines taking up our priceless natural spaces. Note that the previous 2004 master plan for the park<\/a>, much of which has never been carried out, identified parking lots as \u201cundesirable intrusions on the natural landscape\u201d and recommended \u201cno net change to the quantity of daily use parking spaces\u201d in the park. To manage peak demand, the 2004 plan recommended the use of shuttles and the construction of \u201can \u2018over-flow only\u2019 parking using environmentally sensitive construction techniques along the rail and power line right of way.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The reasoning behind the Memorial Groves is the fact that these woods (and the rest of the park) once hosted training grounds for soldiers during World War 1. As noted above, there are concrete remnants of cisterns, sewer lines, and more scattered amongst the trees and ravines. The park was dedicated in 1924<\/a> and named Memorial Park in honor of those who served and died.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But this exceptional urban park was always meant to be natural, a rare and vital refuge for those in the city who have little access to nature. Our founding board president, the late Frank C. Smith<\/a>, promised Ima Hogg, whose family donated the land to the City at cost<\/a>, that he would protect it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Far better for our citizens\u2019 health to walk, run, play, or just sit in nature than practice some military exercise routine. The park already has playing fields, tennis courts, an outdoor swimming pool, a fitness center, cycling and running tracks, in addition to running, biking, and hiking trails and more. Not to mention an enormous 600-acre plus golf course. In 1962 Ima Hogg wrote of her regret that so many acres had been used to build a golf course. She expressed \u201cthe hope that \u2026 all concerned will make every provision in the future to prevent any further invasion of the only remaining large park area in the heart of Houston.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Leave the Camp Logan remnants amongst the trees and grasses, install unobtrusive markers, build simple paths through the woods, as they\u2019ve done through the trees and wetlands of the park\u2019s Eastern Glades<\/a>. Respect the peace and quiet of nature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Send Comments<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n You can send your comments to the Memorial Park Conservancy by emailing groves@memorialparksconservancy.org<\/a>. Sign the petition opposing the project here<\/a>. The conservancy says it will be holding further meetings about the groves project in 2025. Here is a link to the presentation<\/a> given earlier in September.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n The Harris County Flood Control District is holding public meetings on a proposal to raise its dedicated property tax for maintenance projects<\/a>. The measure is on the Nov. 5 ballot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n While there are many dedicated people who work there, the Flood Control District needs to be changed or eliminated. Founded in 1937 to assist the Corps of Engineers in its hugely damaging and flood-inducing program<\/a> of stripping, straightening, and covering in concrete our beautiful, once winding forested streams, the district is restricted by law to outdated and unproductive<\/a> but self-perpetuating practices long abandoned elsewhere<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Yet the district chooses to ignore one of the most important legal obligations of its founding charter: the conservation of forests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s so-called maintenance projects primarily consist of handing out multi-million dollar contracts for cutting down forests, for unnecessary and constant mowing of grasses along the waterways, for bulldozing, compacting, and smothering the earth, making it less able to absorb and filter rainwater; contracts for repeatedly dredging up and removing sand and soil and woody debris that is vital for the stability of the banks and the health of the stream, breaking up habitat and the ecosystem; sand and soil that the bayou would naturally wash away and distribute in a rational manner, including rebuilding banks. See our reports on the district\u2019s program of endless repairs<\/a> and destructive maintenance<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There is precedent for changing the practices of the Flood Control District. In 1979 Harris County Commissioners, who are the bosses of the district, voted to authorize the district to build stormwater detention basins. This, according to the Houston Chronicle,<\/a><\/em> was a \u201cdeparture from the previous focus on channel improvements to reduce flooding risks.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n We will have more on this topic.<\/p>\n\n\n\n SC<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Over the River Through the Woods Plus: A Geology Study of Buffalo Bayou Zombie Memorial Groves in Memorial Park \u2013 Comment and Petition Flood Control Proposes a Tax Increase Oct. 7, 2024 The massive loblolly pine was lying across the path in the bayou woods. A regal giant downed by…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-11925","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.savebuffalobayou.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/11925","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.savebuffalobayou.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.savebuffalobayou.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.savebuffalobayou.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.savebuffalobayou.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=11925"}],"version-history":[{"count":29,"href":"https:\/\/www.savebuffalobayou.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/11925\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11967,"href":"https:\/\/www.savebuffalobayou.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/11925\/revisions\/11967"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.savebuffalobayou.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=11925"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.savebuffalobayou.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/12.-pine-down.jpeg\")
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<\/a>Zombie Groves Planned for Memorial Park Forest<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
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<\/a>No More Money for Flood Control\u2019s Damaging and Pointless \u201cMaintenance\u201d<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n