Buffalo Bayou Alligator on the Rocks: Dead

Cause of Gator Demise Unknown 

Oxygen-deprived upside-down gator on the rocks 

 Also see -> prior blog post with photos of live alligators 
--> Alligator warning signs in George Bush Park 

Buffalo Bayou exiting Barker Reservoir with washed up alligator (8/8/2016 at dusk) 

Landscape behind Barker Dam at the outlet structure that controls the release of water
from the reservoir into Buffalo Bayou 

Eagle spotting in Westchase

Utility Box Eagle in Westchase 

Oak Park landscape enhancement 

Clear Channel Outdoors goes for a new look in mid-Summer: Deep Blue

Clear Channel Outdoors goes for deep blue 

Deep blue paint job under blue sky (7/8/2016 photo) 

Barker Reservoir: After the water receded ...

Pink clusters of apple snail eggs 

Noble Road Trail 

Water release from Barker Reservoir

Buffalo Bayou heading down to the Gulf from the floodgate at Barker Dam

Cloudy Energy Corridor

Energy Corridor with clouds

Three ibises on a tree

Dam flowers are back in bloom

Indian Paintbrush flowers in the grass on the slope of Barker Dam 

Algae bloom on water held back behind Barker Dam 

Westheimer Parkway behind Barker Dam under water

The road to nowhere, or rather into the water 

Barker Dam trail access at Westheimer Pkwy cusp 

Black vultures in the grass - there must be a dead body nearby 

Large dead animal in the water behind the dam after
the vultures have almost finished the clean-up job 

Swallowtail visiting one of the Indian paintbrush flowers that
are now sprouting in the grass on the dam slope 

High water behind the dam - view from the dry stretch of
Westheimer Parkway looking East 

Flooded George Bush Park at Westheimer Parkway 

Brays Bayou - High water in the detention basin (and park) between Highway 6 and Eldridge at Westpark

Houston's Epic April 2016 Flood 

filled up the stormwater detention basins out West, 

but it wasn't enough to prevent disaster downstream 

When the wetlands are really wet 

High water at Archbishop Fiorenza Park on Eldridge Pkway at Westpark  

Flippable dual-purpose sign: Don't Litter in dry condition, High Water
warning when it's been rain like this week 

Marked wetlands area (sign at center) 

Bridge railings with instructions on what to refrain from 

No fishing from bridge - what bridge? 

Not a triathlon event: Cul-de-sac Hiking and Biking - No Swimming 

Nature area: Alligator warning and posted State of Texas fish catch limits 

Fishing in high water at the canal that connects two flood control basins   

Patterson Road in Addicks Reservoir under water again after last week's heavy rains (March 13, 2016 photos)

It typically happens several times a year, and the road that runs East-West through the flood-control reservoir gets closed to traffic. What's less common is that drivers take a chance when the water level is rising after heavy rains and end up in the ditch, or get swept away before the closure. Happened last year; just happened again, as the above photo attests.

Pasture at Houston Farm & Ranch Club

at Bear Creek Park 

Gate of Houston Farm & Ranch Club on Patterson Road

This area is at a higher elevation and was not affected by the flooding 

Vintage fire truck out on pasture 

Addicks reservoir is federal territory - Fire arms restriction