is poised to expand its use of goat herds to clear detention ponds and ditches, after two rounds of tests proved the grazing beasts could be cheaper and more effective than hiring landscaping crews.
“This method is eco-friendly, green and sustainable with minimal carbon footprint,” said Muhammad Umer Khan, supervising engineer for Public Works' transportation and drainage operations division.costs about $2,500 for a one-acre area, compared to about $8,000 for two-legged landscapers with heavy equipment, Khan said, during a presentation Thursday to City Council’s Transportation, Technology and Infrastructure Committee.
That likely will include only wide, open areas, such as detention ponds and maybe some large ditches, officials explained. In other words, residents should not expect to see all of the city’s mowing turned over to the relentless munchers. The use of goats for engine-free mowing and land clearing has grown in popularity in many areas. The Houston Arboretum unleashed the same goats supplied by Rent-A-Ruminant Texas into a 2.5 acre area“We feel like the goats are almost family now,” said Debbie Markey, the arboretum’s executive director, in a statement. “They have been on-site several times in the last few years to assist with removing overgrown vegetation and invasive plant species.
City officials touted the eco-friendliness of the goats as part of Houston’s efforts to reduce emissions to meet climate change pledges while also making the region more resilient to flooding and heavy rains.