Japhet Creek Restoration Project

When you live in a concrete jungle like the Houston Metropolitan area, there’s not much uncompromisable nature left to enjoy. What little green area still exists within city limits typically suffers from human development. Such is the case with Japhet Creek, one of the only remaining natural tributaries of Buffalo Bayou.

Japhet Creek holds historical importance for the city of Houston. As documented by old maps and a local resident in her 80s, farmers used it as the last stop to water their mules on excursions into the city. It also serves as a natural habitat for a community of red tailed hawks, red-eared slider turtles, and other wildlife.

Brian Herod is cofounder of the Japhet Creek Restoration Project, which has been revitalizing the creek area for the last 6 years. Prior to beginning the project, Brian performed some restoration work in Galveston, TX with the Galveston Bay Foundation. Brian explains that after helping out, “[I] said that I had enjoyed the experience but I wish there was something closer to home.” When his friend, Jim, recommended they work in the nearby Japhet Creek area, Brian grew excited. “We toured the creek a few weeks later and in November 2004 we started working on the project.” 

Over the length of the project, Brian and his fellow volunteers have removed over 2 tons of scrap metal and trash from in and around the creek. Besides cleaning up the area, the project has planted more than 100 native trees and shrubs in the area, helping to control erosion and serve as homes for local wildlife.

Along the way, Brian learned the value of forming partnerships with like minded organizations. “As a small civic association, we have limited resources, but when we’ve partnered with other agencies, we’ve drawn upon a larger body of resources.”  Of course, help sometimes comes at a price. “Because various groups have their own agendas, we haven’t always had things turn out exactly the way that we would desire- but the outcomes have moved the project forward and built momentum.”

And momentum they’ve had.

Through partnerships with the Trust for Public Land, Buffalo Bayou Partnership and the City of Houston, they’ve purchased large tracts of the creek in order to create a city park.  Partnerships with the Greater East End Management district and the University of Houston have resulted in a semi-permanent art installation.  The United Way also awarded the project with a community development grant which allowed them to work in local schools to raise awareness about Japhet Creek and its relationship to trash in their neighborhoods.

However, Brian hasn’t found complete success. Due to its urban location, illegal dumping has plagued Japhet Creek. “On the day of the art opening [at the creek], a ditch not 100 feet away had a barrel of an unknown substance dumped into it,” Brian laments. It took 3 weeks and numerous phone calls to remove the barrel and its contents.

Despite setbacks, Brian continues to push forward.  The future holds focus on the less visible, downstream areas of the creek.  The Japhet Creek Project also hopes to win grants to install a system which will aid in the extraction of small trash, such as bottles and chip bags, from the creek.

When asked what advice he could give to others considering spearheading their own local restoration project, Brian thoughtfully replied, “First, take action.  We could have spent months planning and thinking about the project, but instead, we just dove in.”

For information on how to get involved with the Japhet Creek Restoration Project, email bjherod(at)gmail.com.