Jackson Bayou Watershed
About the Watershed
The Jackson Bayou watershed is located in east Harris County, just east of Lake Houston, and serves the Crosby and Newport areas. The watershed covers about 25 square miles and flows into the San Jacinto River below Lake Houston via Jackson Bayou. There are about 36 miles of open streams within the watershed, including the primary stream and tributary channels. Gum Gully is the largest tributary in the watershed and drains about 17 square miles, which is close to 70% of the watershed. The estimated population within the watershed is just under 10,000.
Although erosion problems exist along most of the length of the Jackson Bayou and its tributaries, little or no regional planning has been done for Jackson Bayou due to the low incidence of structural flooding. Jackson Bayou is relatively deep with steep side slopes and the channel slope is relatively steep (for Harris County) which promotes rapid drainage of the watershed. Some flooding of a few structures has occurred in the last twenty years, although the mapped floodplain typically covers farmland and areas with scattered development. The floodplain in the lower portion of the watershed results from the San Jacinto River.
Land Use
Development is concentrated in the Newport and Crosby area, but most of the watershed is relatively undeveloped and hosts either natural habitat or agricultural activity. Relatively slow growth is expected in the watershed.
Environment
Large portions of the watershed are still forested and have not been farmed or developed. Natural wildlife habitats through the undeveloped reaches of the bayou are of high quality and increase the environmental sensitivity of the entire watershed.
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