Brazos River Erosion Study

The Brazos River Erosion study aims to raise awareness of the ongoing erosion of the river and develop strategies to mitigate the problem. There are approximately 9 miles of river that makes its way through Sugar Land.

Taking a Proactive Approach

There are nine levee improvement districts (LIDs) that border the river, protecting 80,000 residents, an estimated $15 billion in private property, and $1 billion in city infrastructure.

The erosion of the Brazos River impacts more than a single local community. This issue has the potential to impact all levels of government. In response, the City is taking a proactive approach that includes key partnerships and stakeholder involvement.

More on the Study

In order to determine the magnitude of the problem and the potential risk involved, it was important to first understand the river's history and migration of the river bank over the years. This effort has resulted in the development of a scientific methodology which provides the ability to predict river erosion and determine at risk areas.

The end goal is to prioritize needed improvements once funds become available.

May 2018 Technical Workshop

A technical workshop detailing the methodology, preliminary results of the study, and the potential impacts on the levees and other public infrastructure was presented in May 2018.

Did You Know?

The city understands the level of investment necessary for our infrastructure and facilities like roads and drainage systems to continue to function at a high level.

Our current 5-year Capital Improvement Program includes plans for $43 million in capital improvements for drainage projects. Years of investments in stormwater drainage infrastructure continue to protect our homes and businesses during severe weather events, which are now becoming more frequent. Since Hurricane Harvey, we have completed five drainage studies and embarked on an ambitious schedule to address river erosion. These actions and more are helping to keep Sugar Land safer than ever before.

  1. Will this impact my home value?
  2. If I’m not in the flood plain, why should I worry about this?
  3. What methodology is the City using to study the Brazos River erosion?
  4. Who are the stakeholders and partners of the study?
More FAQs

Do you have other questions?

Engineering Department
Ph: 281-275-2780
Email: cityengineer@sugarlandtx.gov