Maybe you\u2019re feeling the pressure, pressing some Donate buttons<\/a>. Maybe you\u2019ll decide to give to Save Buffalo Bayou now<\/a> too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Here are some reasons why:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Environmental Advocacy in the City<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Nobody else is doing what we do. We are a small organization with a big punch. Environmental advocates doing journalism, investigating, listening, researching, explaining, asking hard questions about how we manage nature in the city.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Important questions like: Is the Harris County Flood Control District doing a good job<\/a>? How do we know? Who\u2019s monitoring the performance of the flood control district? Note that the district was founded in the 1930s when \u201ccontrolling\u201d flooding meant stripping trees, straightening streams, and covering them in concrete. Move as much stormwater as fast as possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n That approach has long been discredited. Not only is it environmentally damaging, it also increases flooding! But the flood control district is still doing it, destroying our last remaining winding, wooded streams, wiping out forests, even though they are legally obligated to conserve our forests. (See page 1<\/a>.)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Why? Because somebody makes money scraping and bulldozing and installing sheet pile and concrete rubble. Paid with public funds. And then paid to fix it when it fails.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n\n\n\n Flood Committees<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n After Harvey, numerous committees and public officials are busy making plans to manage flood risk. Save Buffalo Bayou attends these meetings on your behalf, making comments, taking notes. (It\u2019s a virtual world!)<\/p>\n\n\n\n Buffalo Bayou<\/a> is the main artery of our natural drainage system in Houston. Yes, many people think it\u2019s an artificial drainage ditch. But it\u2019s a living river, filled with wildlife.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Big Drainage Pipes That Block Drainage<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n And here\u2019s another report we\u2019re working on: why does the City of Houston continue to install massive stormwater drainage pipes that violate their own regulations and block the flow of Buffalo Bayou (and other streams)? Do we not have a flooding problem?<\/p>\n\n\n\n We\u2019ve written about this before<\/a>. But questions remain unanswered. And we have one about this new project: just recently the City installed a massive new drainage pipe on the north bank of Buffalo Bayou just upstream of the Shepherd Bridge. It sticks straight out, shooting stormwater directly across the flow of the bayou and onto the opposite bank. This blocks the flow, acting like a dam, and pummeling the opposite bank. It\u2019s a violation of the City\u2019s own regulations. Violates flood control district guidelines too, as well as requirements of the Corps of Engineers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n How does this happen? Answers coming up.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But we need your help. Every donation helps<\/a>, no matter how small.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Save Buffalo Bayou is a 501c3 nonprofit.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.savebuffalobayou.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/GO-BB-1-680x1024.jpg\")
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.savebuffalobayou.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/Storm-pipe-us-Shepherd.jpg\")