Brays Bayou
Brays Bayou is a slow-moving river in Harris County, Texas. A major tributary of Buffalo Bayou, the Brays flows for 31 miles (50 km) from the western edge of the county, south of Barker Reservoir along the border with Fort Bend County, east to its convergence with the Buffalo at Harrisburg. Nearly all of the river is located within the city of Houston; it is a defining geographic feature of many neighborhoods and districts, including Meyerland, Braeswood Place, the Texas Medical Center, and Riverside Terrace.
| Brays Bayou Braes Bayou, Bray's Bayou | |
|---|---|
Brays Bayou running through Houston, near Texas Medical Center | |
| Location | |
| Country | United States |
| State | Texas |
| County | Harris |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Source | Detention basin |
| • location | Western Harris County |
| • coordinates | 29.712394°N 95.672520°W |
| Mouth | Buffalo Bayou |
• location | Harrisburg, Houston |
• coordinates | 29.726926°N 95.276936°W |
| Length | 31 miles (50 km) |
| Basin size | 129 square miles (330 km2) |
| Basin features | |
| Population | 717,198 |
| Tributaries | |
| • left | Harris Gully |
| • right | Willow Waterhole Bayou, Keegans Bayou |
As a result of its central route through Harris County, the Brays Bayou watershed is heavily urbanized. Over 700,000 people reside within its 129-square-mile (330 km2) drainage area, which contains 124 miles (200 km) of open-channel waterway, mostly from artificial drainage channels. This high level of development, combined with a relative lack of flood control infrastructure, means Brays Bayou is extremely prone to flash flooding events.