Buffalo Bayou
| Buffalo Bayou | |
|---|---|
Buffalo Bayou as it passes by Houston's Memorial Park, May 2014.
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| Country |
 United States
|
| State |
 Texas
|
| County | Fort Bend, Harris |
| Basin features | |
| Main source | Junction of Willow Fork and Crane Branch Katy, Texas 29°46′04″N 95°49′33″W / 29.767895°N 95.825756°W |
| River mouth |
Galveston Bay 29°45′41″N 95°05′13″W / 29.761408°N 95.086903°W |
| Basin size | 500 square miles (1,300 km2) |
| Population | 440,000 |
| Tributaries |
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| Inland ports | Houston Ship Channel, Port of Houston |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Length | 53 miles (85 km) |
Buffalo Bayou is a slow-moving river which flows through Houston in Harris County, Texas. Formed some 18,000 years ago, it has its source in the prairie surrounding Katy, Fort Bend County, and flows approximately 53 miles (85 km) east through the Houston Ship Channel into Galveston Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. In addition to drainage water impounded and released by the Addicks and Barker reservoirs, the bayou is fed by natural springs, surface runoff, and several significant tributary bayous, including White Oak Bayou, Greens Bayou, and Brays Bayou.
As the principal river of Greater Houston, the Buffalo Bayou watershed is heavily urbanized. Its 102-square-mile (260 km2) direct drainage area contains a population of over 440,000. Including tributaries, the bayou has a watershed area of approximately 500 square miles (1,300 km2).
The upper watershed of Buffalo Bayou is impounded by the Addicks and Barker reservoirs, which comprise a major flood control system for the region. The reservoir system plays a crucial role in delaying and attenuating the peak outflow of the river during large rainfall events. Moving eastward, the Buffalo flows under State Highway 6 and into Terry Hershey Park, a linear park which follows the bayou for approximately 6 miles (9.7 km), culminating at Beltway 8. Jogging, biking, kayaking, and fishing are popular in this area.
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Wikipedia