Historically the Buffalo Bayou is a slow moving river traversing in the areas south of the IH 10, flowing in a generally west-to-east path through the city of Houston in Harris County, Texas. Buffalo Bayou has its source in the prairie surrounding Katy, Fort Bend County, Texas to the west of Houston and flows approximately 60 miles (96 km) eastward through Houston to Channelview, Texas where it merges with the San Jacinto River just below where Interstate Highway 10 crosses the San Jacinto River. From there, their combined waters flow into the upper Galveston Bay.

Buffalo Bayou is believed by those wise men of this world to have originally formed some 18,000 years ago.

Currently, the Houston Ship Channel exists along the eastern 16 miles of the Buffalo Bayou from the Turning Basin (29.7499638, -95.2891152) downstream to where it reaches the Lynchburg Ferry and joins with the San Jacinto River. Then, the Houston Ship Channel continues across the path of the Ferry southeastward along the San Jacinto River for another six miles until the Houston Ship Channel arrives at and passes under the Fred Hartman Bridge (SH 146 and SH 99).

From this bridge, the Houston Ship Channel travels another three miles to the southeast and passes Morgan′s Point to the west and Atkinson Island Wildlife Management Ares to the east. It is here, at Morgan′s Point where the mouth of the San Jacinto River is considered to be located.

Upon moving past Morgan′s Point, the ship channel enters Galveston Bay and continues mostly south by southeast on Galveston Bay for 25.5 miles until arriving at the Point Bolivar - Galveston Ferry shipping pathway. After passing the ferry pathway, the Houston Ship Channel turn eastward for another 4.5 miles to arrive along the south side of the north jetty and the mouth of the Galveston Bay and enters the Gulf of Mexico.

In addition to drainage water impounded and released by the Addicks and Barker reservoirs, the bayou is fed by natural springs, surface runoff, and several significant tributary bayous, including White Oak Bayou, Greens Bayou, and Brays Bayou. Additionally, Buffalo Bayou is considered a tidal river downstream of a point 440 yards (400 m) west of the Shepherd Drive bridge in west-central Houston.

Buffalo Bayou is a slow moving coastal flat land river that primarily flows through the city of Houston, Texas.

53 miles

102 square miles (260 square kilometers )

500 square miles (1,300 square kilometers)

Including tributaries

San Jacinto River

Mayde Creek, Turkey Creek Rummel Creek, Spring Branch,

White Oak Bayou, Hunting Bayou, Greens Bayou.

Brays Bayou, Sims Bayou, Vince Bayou

Katy, Texas

At convergence of Willow Fork Creek and Cane Island Branch

San Jacinto River, Galveston Bay