Bayou Preservation Association

Bayou Preservation Association Our mission is to celebrate, protect and restore the natural richness of all our bayous and streams.

For over 55 years, we’ve been Houston's longest-running and most trusted environmental conservation nonprofit. At Bayou Preservation Association, our vision is a network of healthy bayous, streams and watersheds. Through a science-based approach to policies and actions, community collaboration, and a commitment to safe and clean water, we're working to transform our city into a region acknowledged nationally for its high quality of life. Our Mission: Celebrate, Protect, Restore
Covering over 2,500 miles, Houston's bayous are not just beautiful but also provide essential flood protection and public health benefits. We embrace a collaborative approach, uniting community partners, policymakers, and local governments to enhance the health of our bayous and our Lower Galveston Bay watershed. Balancing Growth & Preservation
In a rapidly growing urban environment like Houston, addressing environmental issues is urgent. We advocate for nature-based solutions to harmonize growth and preservation while ensuring equitable access for all within the Lower Galveston Bay watershed. Through implementation of the Coastal Public Lands Management Act, the Galveston Bay Estuary Plan, and The City of Houston Climate Action Plan, we create programs that celebrate, protect, and restore the richness of our waterways. Promoting Resilience Through Nature
Our work extends to advocating for urban development that seamlessly integrates nature-based solutions. This approach promotes regional resilience, monitors water quality in collaboration with local authorities, and develops educational resources for communities and stewards. We unite scientists, engineers, educators, advocates, and resident stewards to Celebrate, Protect, and Restore (CPR) Houston’s bayous.

What a morning! 🌿On October 3rd, we headed out to Houston's East End for Living Roots: A Guided Walk alongside the amazi...
10/08/2026

What a morning! 🌿

On October 3rd, we headed out to Houston's East End for Living Roots: A Guided Walk alongside the amazing Laura Conely of Urban Paths.

Together we explored Fonde Park, Smither Park, and the Orange Show, with stops along Brays Bayou Greenway where we spotted brown pelicans, monk parakeets, live oaks, osage orange trees, and a few surprises along the way. 🌱

Thank you to everyone who came out and walked with us. It was a special morning of art, nature, and community.

Bayou Preservation Association is funded in part by the City of Houston through Houston Arts Alliance.

🌧️ Rain is headed our way this weekend. Here's one simple way to help.Keep It Out of the BayouOur storm drains flow dire...
10/01/2026

🌧️ Rain is headed our way this weekend. Here's one simple way to help.

Keep It Out of the Bayou

Our storm drains flow directly into our bayous without treatment. As rain flows down our streets, it picks up litter and debris along the way, affecting the health of Houston's waterways.

Before the rain rolls in, take a few minutes to clear debris from around your neighborhood storm drain. It's a small action that makes a real difference:

- Reduce pollution reaching our bayous
- Prevent blockages and help water drain more quickly
- Support healthier water quality and aquatic life

Want to take action? Check out BPA's YouTube video on how to reclaim your neighborhood drain! πŸƒ

πŸ‘‰https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qwvRfT9PRrA

Our waterways have a story to tell about the places they flow through.In 2023, BPA brought water quality monitoring to P...
09/25/2026

Our waterways have a story to tell about the places they flow through.

In 2023, BPA brought water quality monitoring to Pine Gully, a waterway winding through the Park Place neighborhood in southeast Houston. Testing revealed bacteria levels above the state limit. BPA shared the findings with the City of Houston, who identified and repaired a sewer blockage and two underground water breaks.

A waterway monitored. Data shared. Infrastructure repaired. A neighborhood's waterway a little safer because someone showed up to pay attention.

That is what resilience looks like up close.

As Houston continues to grow, the connection between healthy waterways and healthy communities has never been more important.

Your belief in this work helps us keep listening and showing up for the places that need it most.

BPA is at the 2026 Coastal and Estuarine Summit! 🌊This week, our Restoration Manager Jari McCoy is in San Francisco repr...
09/24/2026

BPA is at the 2026 Coastal and Estuarine Summit! 🌊

This week, our Restoration Manager Jari McCoy is in San Francisco representing BPA at the Restore America's Estuaries Summit, bringing Houston's bayous to a national conversation about coastal resilience.

Her presentation spotlights our restoration work along Country Club Bayou, where conservation planning, cultural history, and community partnerships come together to protect both the land and the legacy of the people who shaped it.

We're proud to share this work on a national stage, and even prouder of the community that made it possible. 🌿

Connecting local art, community, and the natural world 🌱Join us Saturday, October 3, for Living Roots: A Guided Walk alo...
09/18/2026

Connecting local art, community, and the natural world 🌱

Join us Saturday, October 3, for Living Roots: A Guided Walk along Houston's bayous, where art, nature, and wellness come together in the heart of the East End!

Led by Laura Conely of Urban Paths, a wellness instructor and nature guide, this free guided walk invites you to explore Houston's green spaces through storytelling, connection, and movement.

Along the way we'll visit Smither Park and the Orange Show, two of Houston's most beloved community art spaces, woven into the natural landscapes surrounding our bayous. 🌿

Come curious and see what new stories take root along the way.

πŸ“… Saturday, October 3 | 9:30 AM – 11 AM
πŸ“ Fonde Park | 5399 Hansford Ave, Houston, TX 77023
🌿 FREE & Open to the Public

πŸ‘‰ Reserve your spot - https://www.bayoupreservation.org/events/living-roots-a-guided-walk/form

The Bayou Preservation Association is funded in part by the City of Houston through Houston Arts Alliance.

Behind the Scenes of Buffalo Bayou 🌊This summer, we connected with the team at Buffalo Bayou Partnership to stay current...
09/08/2026

Behind the Scenes of Buffalo Bayou 🌊

This summer, we connected with the team at Buffalo Bayou Partnership to stay current on the daily work keeping Houston's most iconic urban waterway thriving!

Led by Director of Water Maintenance Robby Robinson, we learned more about the operations of the Bayou-Vac, an industrial-strength vacuum vessel that removes floating debris and litter from the bayou, and gained a deeper appreciation for the stewardship that goes into maintaining this waterway every day. πŸ’§

Visits like this deepen our understanding of the people and practices keeping Houston's waterways healthy, and inspire new approaches to long-term stewardship.

Curious about Buffalo Bayou? Buffalo Bayou Partnership offers a variety of pontoon tours including history, nature, and private team-building cruises. A unique opportunity to explore the heart of Houston!

πŸ‘‰ Reserve your spot: buffalobayou.org/tours/

πŸ“† Save the Date!Confluence: Where Ideas and Practice Meet returns this fall on Wednesday, October 28th at United Way of ...
09/03/2026

πŸ“† Save the Date!

Confluence: Where Ideas and Practice Meet returns this fall on Wednesday, October 28th at United Way of Greater Houston.

Whether you have been part of Confluence before or have been waiting for the right moment to join, this fall is worth showing up for.

Registration is now open. The full theme and program details are coming soon!

πŸ—“οΈ Wednesday, October 28th | 10 AM – 12 PM
πŸ“ United Way of Greater Houston | 50 Waugh Dr, Houston, TX 77007

πŸ”— Link in bio to register and learn more.

From Seeds to Sanctuaries 🌻This August, we wrapped up our Neighborhood Resilience Network Series with the Pollinator Gar...
09/02/2026

From Seeds to Sanctuaries 🌻

This August, we wrapped up our Neighborhood Resilience Network Series with the Pollinator Gardens Workshop, the final event in our free, three-part series focused on everyday practices that strengthen resilience in local communities.

72 community members came together to explore native plants and pollinator habitats with Master Gardener Robin Kendrick-Yates, discovering how to transform yards into thriving ecosystems that support healthier landscapes and waterways. 🌱

100 native seed starter kits went home with attendees to kick-start their own pollinator sanctuaries!

Special thanks to Ron McFarlane of Harlem River Farms for leading a guided tour of the on-site community garden and sharing his expertise with our community.

A big thank you to our sponsors H-E-B and River Oaks Garden Club for making this series possible, and to Native Plant Society of Texas, Texas Master Gardeners, and Harris County Pollution Control for sharing their resources!

The seeds have been planted. We can't wait to see what grows. 🌿

What's the Story Behind Houston's Bayous? 🌊Join us Tuesday, September 1, for the 1st Tuesday Monthly Lecture Series, a f...
08/28/2026

What's the Story Behind Houston's Bayous? 🌊

Join us Tuesday, September 1, for the 1st Tuesday Monthly Lecture Series, a free learning series hosted by Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service and Harris County Master Gardeners focused on sustainable practices that support healthier landscapes, waterways, and gardens.

Discover the story flowing through Houston's bayous! Learn how they shape flood resilience, explore green infrastructure solutions, and see how stewardship creates stronger, more resilient communities.

Hear from our Applied Environmental Scientist, Tiernan Pytlak, as we uncover the critical role bayous play and how our waterways influence the places we call home.

Come curious and leave with a deeper connection to the bayous that shape our city. 🌊

πŸ“… Tuesday, September 1 | 11 AM
πŸ“ Trini Mendenhall Community Center | Auditorium
1414 Wirt Road, Houston, TX 77055
FREE & Open to the Public

Where Partnership FlowsSome of the most meaningful work begins when people come together with a shared interest in the p...
08/26/2026

Where Partnership Flows

Some of the most meaningful work begins when people come together with a shared interest in the places they call home.

For 60 years, BPA's work has been carried forward through partnership and the communities that have chosen to show up alongside us.

Earlier this year, BPA and our partners hosted water quality monitoring trainings, building the skills to better understand and care for our local waterways. In Friendswood, that work is part of a larger effort to reduce bacteria levels in Clear Creek through public education, pet waste stations, and community monitoring.

When communities come together, stewardship reaches farther.

Your belief in this work is what makes it possible, today and for generations to come.

Address

2339 Commerce Street , #163
Houston, TX
77002

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+17135296443

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