The more the city grows, the more we need to protect our wetlands

Houston was born on the bayou, or rather where Buffalo Bayou intersects with White Oak Bayou — Allen’s Landing. Almost 200 years later, it’s the fourth largest city in America, and with an area that encompasses 8 counties, it’s still growing. But with the advancements that come with increased development comes fewer trees, fewer wildlife, fewer prairies, and … fewer wetlands.

Feb. 2 is World Wetlands Day. Wetlands are areas of land saturated with water either permanently or seasonally. The National Wildlife Federation states that aside from supporting birds, mammals, reptiles, and insects, wetlands “also filter, clean, and store water, acting like kidneys for other ecosystems.” The land’s ability to store water is important, as evidenced by recent 100-year floods — 2016’s Tax Day Flood and 2017’s Hurricane Harvey — that showed Houston’s inability to withstand historic rain. The site also says that one acre of wetlands can store 1.5 million gallons of water.

A Texas A&M Agrilife Extension and Sea Grants Texas report states that between 1992 and 2010, Harris County lost 30 percent of wetlands areas because of development and lax rules, resulting in the area’s inability to handle 4 billion gallons of rain. The full report can be found here (for the fact sheet, go here). In another study by Texas A&M and Houston Advanced Research Center, a sample of development permits were analyzed; researchers found that in less than half of those permits had developers turned in the proper paperwork. That report is available here.

The Environmental Protection Agency states that “wetlands are among the most productive ecosystems in the world, comparable to rain forests and coral reefs.” Maybe, education is one way to stress their importance. For educators, WorldWetlandsDay.org offers a wealth of material to use in classrooms.

You can also protect wetlands unharmed by development. Volunteer with Exploration Green’s Wetlands Team by emailing Christine Taylor or with Artist Boat’s Coastal Heritage Preserve’s Open Workdays. Sign up for updates from Texas Community Watershed Partners, Bayou City Waterkeepers, or Greens Bayou Coalition. Support these and others who work to protect wetlands.

And get involved to keep developers on their toes about filing proper paperwork to mitigate the loss of wetlands.