Buffalo Bayou Service Project

On Friday, April 15, 2016, students gathered for a day of fun and learning about wetland ecosystems. The day started off for my group with a presentation on recycling. I learned that earthworms and many types of beetles are responsible for breaking down tree and yard waste. Many types of fungi, including mushrooms, also help to break down tree and yard waste. This all turns into very rich compost, which is excellent for growing plants in.

Many people do not realize that some types of fungi are edible. If you encounter a fungi and do not know if it is edible, the best thing to do is to leave it alone. Leave the decisions to trained experts and biologists.

The next stop was the sustainable garden. With the world’s population growing, one of the main problems is growing enough food to feed everyone. One solution is home gardening. Growing your own fruits and vegetables saves both greenhouse gases and valuable land. While some members of my group spread compost in new garden beds, I helped shovel the compost into the wheelbarrow and dump it into the new garden beds.

Another thing I learned is that the sprinkler system is solar-powered. This means that a solar panel converts sunlight into electricity which in turn runs the sprinklers.

The best part of the day was a tour of White Oak Bayou and Buffalo Bayou. I learned that many of the plant species are not native to Southeast Texas. This includes Chinese Tallow as well as many of the cattails, reeds, and rushes found in the bayous. I was appalled at how much trash accumulates over the course of one week. The main reason for this is that many of the creeks and bayous drain into these two main bayous, which then flow into the Gulf of Mexico.

Many people do not realize that all of their litter and pet waste eventually ends up in Houston’s waterways. If this is not collected before reaching the Gulf, the trash poses a threat to wildlife.
Every five days, people from Buffalo Bayou Service Project come out to clean up the trash. They do this on boats with nets dragging behind. The nets capture the trash and make it easier for workers to put it into bags.

One of the neat things the groups got to see is the original Houston Ship Channel. When the Allen brothers first settled in Houston, the Ship Channel was the biggest driver to the city’s economy. As the container ships became bigger, the original Ship Channel was closed and was moved to the east side of town where it remains today. Another thing that was interesting is that an old, historic building was being restored. Once complete, the Buffalo Bayou Service Project will move in and the rooftop will house a garden.

The next thing my group did was a recycling poster. Using only the materials provided, the group had to promote the benefits of recycling products.
UHD professors who specialize in the areas discussed were available to answer questions and give lectures on the topics presented. The day was full of valuable information that can be taken into consideration when you think something is not recyclable or won’t end up in Houston’s waterways.