A group of local leaders broke ground on a new basin on the south side of Houston that they say will help prevent flooding of nearby houses and businesses.

U.S. Rep. Lizzie Fletcher (D-Houston) joined Harris County Flood Control District Executive Director Dr. Tina Petersen, Houston City Council Member Abbie Kamin (District C), and City of Houston Chief Recovery Officer Stephen Costello on breaking ground on the Meyergrove Detention Basin on Thursday.

The basin is a stormwater detention basin that will support water overflow for more than 27 million gallons of stormwater during heavy rain events to prevent flooding of nearby residences, commercial buildings, and roadways.

The 24.31 square miles of flood reduction will benefit areas that have experienced repeated flooding events and severe damage, including from the Tax Day and Memorial Day Floods, and from Hurricane Harvey.  The basin is part of a 2018 Bond Project to reduce flooding in the area and will be located between Brays Bayou and North Braeswood Boulevard adjacent to I-610.  Construction is anticipated to be completed by the end of this year.

“The Meyergrove Detention Basin project is a much-needed improvement in Texas’ Seventh Congressional District that will have a real impact on the people of this community,” said Fletcher.  “I was glad to join our community leaders in breaking ground today, and to have brought congressional funding back to Houston for this important work.  Protecting our community from flooding is a collaborative effort, and I thank our community leaders joining me today for their partnership and leadership.”

In 2021, Fletcher requested and secured nearly $10 million in federal funding to design and construct the Meyergrove Stormwater Detention Basin through the Community Funded Projects process in Congress.  The funding was included in the Funding for the People Act, a bipartisan government funding bill that funds essential programs and projects, including the Meyergrove Stormwater Detention Basin.

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