Biodiversity on the Fondren Diversion Channel

My heart leaps up when I behold

A rainbow in the sky:

So was it when my life began;

So is it now I am a man;

So let it be when I shall grow old

Or let me die!

–William Wordsworth

Diversion channels are part of the Houston landscape, deep channels intended to help direct rain water into the bayous away from our neighborhoods.  One such channel is the Fondren Diversion Channel, located in southwest Houston, running mostly parallel with Fondren Avenue and entering Braes Bayou just east of Fondren, near Fondren Middle School.

Fondren Diversion Channel has a paved path from South Braeswood to Willowbend, part of Houston’s hike-and-bike network.  South of Willowbend, where there is no pavement, particularly between Willowbend and West Bellfort, there are a number of native species that are not found north of Willowbend, where one finds rudbeckia, Indian blanket, and bluebonnets. The area south of Willowbend has many rudbeckia, but few gaillardia or bluebonnets.  The areas north and south of Willowbend also share Berlandier’s flax, scarlet pimpernel, and  Herbertia (Prairie-nymph) as well as the ubiquitous ruellia and showy evening primrose. Between Bankside and Willowbend there are three or four green milkweed, a few passion vines, a few wine cups, and plentiful spiderwort.

It is south of Bankside, however, where there is very little foot traffic because there is no access to apartments or single-family residences, where one sees the larger number of plants and species. In this area, the green milkweed, rosinweed, and passion vine are numerous.  Plants I have seen nowhere else on the diversion channel are several patches of clematis and an indigo plant as well as a patch of white spiderwort. The other spiderworts on the diversion channel are the familiar pink to bluish purple. There are also some isolated wine cups.

The indigo plant has persisted in an area that appears to suffer abuse from patrons of the nearby storage facility, which is also where the white spiderwort is located. Mexican hat and rudbeckia are plentiful in this area. I do not know that there is a direct correlation between foot traffic and plant diversity, but there is at least the possibility of correspondence.

There is a plan to create a paved trail south of Willowbend to Willow Waterhole Bayou, just south of West Bellfort.  This trail then will be extended to Willow Waterhole, a new destination park for Houstonions. Such a trail will help to connect a large number of people with the Bayou system of trails, especially those in Braes Oaks and Westbury. These connections are important; I am concerned, however, about what will happen to the species that are present already in this section of the diversion channel.  It has been suggested that native plants will be planted, which is a great idea.  In the portion of the channel that is already paved, the area between Willowbend and South Braeswood, however, there is much less diversity of flora. Turtles and water birds do spend time on the channel

In addition to the paved trail being added to this segment of the diversion channel as well as the preservation of native species that are already present, I wonder if an educational signage program would be helpful, one that identifies what the plants are, their role in providing nectar and serving as host plants, as well as identifying how the roots provide drainage that have the potential to help mitigate flooding.  A system of signage that educates would help address the issues that face Fondren Diversion Channel and the other diversion channels that are part of the Houston landscape. Harris County Flood Control has a mowing regimen, about three times a year.