Waterway Maintenance
Waterway Maintenance Program
Buffalo Bayou Partnership’s Waterway Maintenance team removes trash and debris from the bayou to ensure it remains healthy and resilient.
2,200+ cubic yards
of trash and debris removed annually
EQUATES TO 191 DUMP TRUCK LOADS
That’s a lot of trash.
The debris that collects in Buffalo Bayou eventually flows into the Houston Ship Channel and on to Galveston Bay, the largest estuary on the Texas coast. By removing trash upstream, BBP prevents it from continuing downstream and polluting one of Texas’ most important watersheds.
A trash-free bayou leads to healthier habitats, thriving ecosystems, and a cleaner Gulf.
So how does removing trash from Buffalo Bayou work?
As a leader in waterway stewardship, BBP works from boats and on land using proven methods to collect and remove floatable trash from Houston’s historic waterway and its banks.
Containment booms are placed strategically at locations where the bayou eddies and trash naturally collects, to address these problem areas more efficiently
Tracking weather patterns, tidal charts, and flow patterns provides insight into where trash gathers and in what quantities, allowing the team to predict where attention is most needed
The Bayou-Vac is specially designed to suction floatable trash from the water’s surface. BBP uses this patented technology developed internally to support our innovative waterway maintenance efforts.
Meet the Bayou-Vac: On a Mission to Clean Up the Bayou
Designed right here in Houston. Built for Buffalo Bayou.
The Bayou-Vac is a patented, custom-built vessel designed to remove floating trash and debris from Buffalo Bayou. Its industrial-strength vacuum system quickly and efficiently extracts material that otherwise would continue downstream.
BBP designed this patented debris-removal vessel and the technology was reviewed and approved by the United States Patent and Trademark Office. To learn more, contact Robby Robinson, Director of Waterway Maintenance.
Where does the trash come from?
Buffalo Bayou and the other waterways weaving through Houston are essential stormwater infrastructure, helping to direct water from city streets into the Ship Channel and beyond.
Unfortunately, water is not the only thing that flows into city storm drains. Rain carries escaped trash from public spaces, streets, neighborhoods, and more into Buffalo Bayou.
What kind of trash do you find?
Not everything that enters the bayou looks the same.
A huge city like Houston produces a wide variety of trash, and a lot of it.
Here’s a quick glance at what BBP removed in 2025:
plastic: 868 cubic yards
foamed plastic: 694 cubic yards
wood: 355 cubic yards
rubber: 66 cubic yards
glass: 61 cubic yards
metal: 56 cubic yards
cloth: 54 cubic yards
What can you do to help?
- Support the Waterway Maintenance team by making a donation.
- Stop by The Water Works Visitor Center in Buffalo Bayou Park for a compostable trash bag, collect litter along the trails, and bring it back for a special sticker.
- Volunteer your time to help care for the parks and trails along Buffalo Bayou.
- Pick up trash in and around your neighborhood, even if it isn’t yours.
- Use reusable bags when shopping.
- Start using refillable water bottles.
- Bring your own coffee mug to work.
- Pack lunch in a reusable container.
- Don’t purchase products with excess packaging.
- Try reusable straws.
Making Waves in the News
From the Bayou-Vac to waterway cleanups, see how BBP’s work is making an impact across Houston and beyond.
Let’s Talk Trash
Check out some views from the field and see the Waterway Maintenance team in action!
