Author: FBMUD 140

The Brazos River is currently projected to reach 49.9 feet at the Richmond gauge on Sunday evening. The addition of the tubes north of the District should protect to about a gauge height of 52 feet, at least 2 feet higher than the current predictions. The District is currently obtaining a pump to pump water from the south pond (Pond 3) as a precaution against rising water levels in the oxbow.

At this time, it is not anticipated that river water will flood homes, but we are continuing to monitor the situation and evaluate contingency plans. We also want to remind residents that local rainfall can also cause flooding, if it is intense enough, such as the rainfall we saw on Tuesday.

At this time, out of an abundance of caution, you may want to consider moving items in your home to higher ground if possible, especially if you flooded in the past. Again, we do not expect flooding given current predictions; however, we encourage everyone to be proactive.

Update: At the request and direction of the property owners, citing insurance and other issues, the District will not be using volunteers for its ongoing flood mitigation efforts or deployment of Tiger tubes. However, we very much appreciate the community’s willingness and eagerness to help!

On Sunday, May 5 the Board held an emergency meeting to discuss flood mitigation efforts in the face of rising waters on the Brazos River. The Board approved moving forward with the acquisition and deployment of Tiger dams and other equipment along an alignment running from the northern boundary of the District to the existing “Rio Vista Berm” (roughly the same alignment as the “DRS Berm” discussed at District meetings) and to scale the response in accordance with river projections. We are currently undertaking efforts to deploy a section of Tiger dams being lent by FB LID 7 on the lowest elevation of the proposed berm alignment, plug the outfall at DRS Road, and are exploring the use of sandbags along a portion of the southern boundary of the District.

As of this update, the Brazos River is projected to crest at 46.1 ft. on Friday morning, May 10. The District currently estimates its risk of flooding to begin at approximately 50.5 ft. Hopefully, this remains an exercise and the river stays within its banks.

Due to projected rising river levels, the District is reminding residents that they can and should monitor the level of the Brazos River at Richmond. The River level is currently projected to peak at 42 feet on Tuesday morning (April 30). The District estimates that its risk of flooding from the Brazos River begins at a river elevation of 50.6 feet. Emergency alerts, if any, and other information regarding potential flooding will be issued by the Fort Bend Office of Emergency Management, and may be monitored at http://fbcoem.org.