This watershed project is for Highland Bayou, Marchand Bayou, the Highland Bayou Diversion Canal, Moses Bayou, and an unnamed tributary of Moses Bayou locally known as Bayou Pierre. The goal was to create a Watershed Protection Plan (WPP) to address water quality issues in these waterbodies, and identify projects and actions that can mitigate these issues. According to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) Texas Integrated Water Quality Report published in 2014, segments of Highland Bayou have elevated levels of bacteria and depressed levels of dissolved oxygen. Marchand Bayou has elevated levels of bacteria and depressed levels of dissolved oxygen. The Diversion Canal, Moses Bayou and the Unnamed Tributary (Bayou Pierre) all have elevated levels of bacteria. All of these water bodies are listed on the TCEQ 303(d) list as impaired.

The Texas Coastal Watershed Program (TCWP) in cooperation with the Galveston Bay Estuary Program (GBEP) undertook a watershed planning effort to improve water quality by creating the WPP. In anticipation of the WPP, the Highland Bayou Watershed Characterization Report was drafted in 2012. The characterization report gives a snapshot of conditions and trends for water quality in Highland Bayou. This information was used to help identify key issues and develop watershed solutions through the watershed stakeholder group; a collaboration of local, state, private, community and federal partners.

The preparation of this webpage and the Highland Bayou Watershed Protection Plan was financed through grants from the Galveston Bay Estuary Program, a program of the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.