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Weather Update – May 9, 2024

The Brazos River continues to rise and is forecasted to crest at 45 feet in Richmond, Texas by Friday, May 10.

This water elevation is more than 10 feet lower than the record flood during Hurricane Harvey in 2017. High water levels outside the levee have closed the FBCLID 15 flood gates, but water will not reach the bottom of the levee.

Between Sunday, May 12 and Tuesday, May 14, FBCLID 15 is forecasted to receive 1-2 inches of rain. Fortunately, the Brazos River will begin dropping as rain chances increase.

The FBCLID 15 pump stations and portable pumps have been tested, and operators are on stand-by if it begins to rain.

The latest forecast and information from the National Weather Service is included below:

Fort Bend LID 15 Weather Update

Early next week the Brazos River is forecasted to crest at 41.6 feet. Based on this Brazos River water level, the LID 15 drainage system will continue to operate normally under gravity flow and the pumps will not be needed. However, the LID 15 pump stations and portable pumps have been tested, and operators are on stand-by if the forecast changes. The latest forecast and information from the National Weather Service is included below.

During any heavy rain event there may be street ponding or flooding if the storm drains are overwhelmed and backed up.  As rainfall decreases, the storm sewers will catch up and any water in the streets will recede.  Never drive into high water.

Project Brazos Update

In January 2024, the City of Sugar Land approved a $28 million grant application to address bank erosion along the Brazos River. Referred to as Project Brazos, the proposed scope includes two large bends of the Brazos River near the LID 15 levee that protects Riverstone. The LID 15 levee and Riverstone residents do not face any imminent danger from the Brazos River. This erosion prevention project will provide long-term protection to Riverstone when the Brazos tries to change course in the future. The proposed design, picture below, was recommended by the United States Army Corps of Engineers and their river erosion specialists at the Engineer Research and Development Center in Vicksburg, MS.

The City of Sugar Land, in cooperation with Fort Bend County and the Texas Water Development Board, will manage and fund Project Brazos in the areas near Riverstone. The City already owns the land between the LID 15 levee and the Brazos River, but LID 15 will need to provide access easements to reach these construction areas outside the levee. Fortunately, access roads already exist for both proposed levee crossings.  The City is currently starting the Request for Qualifications process and hopes to select a design engineer this summer for the Project Brazos areas near Riverstone.