Green Buffalo.
One Solution To Purify the Water
Natural wetlands have been recognized for a long time as an efficient way to clean water and they perform many functions that are beneficial to both humans and wildlife [2]. Wetlands consist of rocky areas that help water flow slowly through them. Constructed wetland systems work very similar to natural wetlands which rely on plants and a biological and physical process to clean polluted water. Most constructed wetlands systems are used to treat industrial and domestic wastewater and also urban runoff. They also have a purpose to remove bacteria, enteric viruses, SS, BOD, nitrogen, metals, and phosphorus [4]. Constructed wetlands can be built large or small depending on the area of interest and also above or below the land surface. They are constructed by excavating, backfilling, grading, diking and installing water control structures to establish desired hydraulic flow patterns [2]. For the Buffalo Bayou the constructed wetland would be large extending across the area of interest. We are planning to construct 4-acres of wetland systems within a time period of 1 to 2 years. The Buffalo Bayou has wetlands systems in place in different areas of the bayou, making this a very possible solution for the polluted water. In order for us to get approved to build the wetlands systems, we first must communicate with the Harris County Flood Control District which approves many projects in the Buffalo Bayou. Some information regarding the Harris County Flood Control are below.
Figure 1: Constructed Wetland System
Harris County Flood Control District
Harris County Flood Control District, is a district that was created in 1937 by the Texas Legislature with the purpose to respond to devastating floods that struck the region in 1929 and 1935 [3]. The district is ran and governed by the Harris County Commissioners Court. Today the roles of the District have changed becoming more complex. The District came up with three important methods to reduce the risk of floods in many areas and communities in Houston. The three methods are devise reduction plans for flood damage, implement these plans, and finally maintain the infrastructure which, provide flood damage reduction projects that work, with appropriate regard for community and natural values [3]. The district today oversees about 1,500 channels that total to about 2,500 miles, and one of those channels is the Buffalo Bayou. Since 2010 the Flood Control District began working on projects to improve the Buffalo Bayou. As of today, the District has completed 8 projects on the Buffalo Bayou with the latest one being the Linear Detention Between State Highway 6 and Sam Houston Tollway. All of these projects have improved certain locations and aspects of the bayou relating to pollution, restoration, flood control, channel modifications, and maintenance repairs.