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About Project Brays
Project Brays is the largest, most significant flood damage reduction initiative to be managed by the Harris County Flood Control District and will benefit thousands of residents and businesses along Brays Bayou.
Our History
Since the early settlement of Houston, residents have had to contend with flooding. While the potential for flooding will always be present in our area, with expert engineering and planning, the Harris County Flood Control District (Flood Control District) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) have steadily worked to reduce the risk and damages resulting from flooding events.
In the mid 1980's the Corps conducted a watershed study, examining Buffalo Bayou and surrounding watersheds, their findings concluded a flood damage reduction project would be extremely beneficial to the community, outweighing the costs. As a result, the Corps joined forces with the Flood Control District and began work on the Brays Bayou Federal Flood Damage Reduction Project, now known as Project Brays.
As of today, Project Brays is nearing completion. With new approaches and state-of-the-art technology, flood damage reduction is more effective and efficient than ever before. Residents and businesses along Brays Bayou can look forward to benefiting from the Project Brays initiative, a $480,000,000 project, in the coming years.
- 1843
- 1913
- 1919
- 1929
- 1932
- 1943
- 1945
- 1946
- 1949
- 1959
- 1976
- 1978
- 1981
- 1983
- 1985
- 1992
- 1993
- 1994
- 1995
- 2001
- 2004
- 2005
- 2007
- 2008
- 2008
- 2009
- 2010
- 2013
- 2015
- 2015
- 2016
- 2016
- 2017
- 2017
- 2018
- 2019
- 2019
October 1843
Major flooding along Brays Bayou, resulting in all bridges leading into the city being underwater.
December 1913
Large storm causes Brays Bayou to flood, forcing hundreds of area residents to evacuate their homes.
September 1919
Canoes and small boats are the primary transportation near Rice University after a storm floods Brays Bayou.
April 1929
9.5 inches of rainfall causes extreme damage to many residences and businesses along Brays Bayou.
August 1932
Extensive rainfall from a hurricane leads to flooding along Brays Bayou.
October 1943
Brays Bayou overflows due to intense rain, causing Bellaire and southeast Houston to be underwater and flooding 11,500 homes.
August 1945
Heaviest rainfall recorded in Harris County to date caused widespread evacuations.
May 1946
Over 4 inches of rain recorded in just two hours due to intense rainstorm, flooding many areas.
October 1949
Heavy rains produce over 10 inches of rain recorded in 24 hours with damages estimated at $5 million.
October 1959
Major thunderstorms lead to flooding and damage to more than 100 homes causing an estimated $1 million in damages.
June 1976
Rainfall reaches 13 inches along Brays Bayou, leaving the Texas Medical Center with heavy damages.
November 1978
Major thunderstorm causes flooding along several bayous across Harris County, producing minor damages to surrounding homes.
August 1981
Brays Bayou rises out of its banks in some areas causing many homes to flood near the upper portions of the watershed.
September 1983
Record level flooding is recorded along Brays Bayou, leaving approximately 1,000 homes and other structures flooded.
Mid 1980’s
In the mid 1980’s US Corp of Engineering started studies of Brays Bayou.
March 1992
Record level flooding is recorded along Brays Bayou, leaving over 300 homes flooded.
1993
The first shovels to move dirt started in 1993 at Beltway 8 Detention Basin, later becoming Arthur Storey Park.
October 1994
Moderate flooding is recorded along Brays Bayou, flooding about 100 homes.
Mid 1990s
Design and engineering work was started on Brays Bayou.
June 2001
Tropical storm brings record rainfall, causing over $5 billion in damages citywide, making it the costliest tropical storm in U.S. history. Five-day rainfall exceeded 20 inches within the Brays Bayou watershed.
2004
Excavation of the main channel begins.
2005
The Brays Bayou freshwater marsh is completed at Mason Park.
2007
Old Westheimer Detention Basin Completed 2007
September 2008
Hurricane Ike strikes Galveston Island, causing more than $28 billion in damages.
2008
U-turn at the Broadway Bridge is modified.
Aurthor Storey Park Detention Basin is completed.
The channel excavation is completed from the Ship Channel to Lawndale and from Calhoun to Ardmore.
April 2009
April 17-28 brings extensive flooding; Some highways close and water went out of banks along Brays Bayou. 100’s of structures flood on Bray Bayou. HCFCD records 24-hour rainfall of 7.6 inches at Brays Bayou and Bellaire.
2010
The channel excavation is completed from Lawndale St to Old Spanish Trail.
2013
The channel excavation is completed from Ardmore Street to Holcombe Blvd.
May 2015
More than 6,000 structures flooded and seven fatalities as a result of the highest rainfall recorded in Buffalo and Brays watersheds, with nearly 11 inches in 3 hours on Brays Bayou.
2015
• Eldridge Detention Basin is completed.
• The channel excavation is completed from Old Spanish Trail to Lidstone St.
• Lidstone St Bridge is replaced.
April 2016
Historic flooding occurs during the Tax Day Flood with an average of 12 to 16 inches of rain in 12 hours countywide.
May 2016
Memorial Day Flood North and northwest Harris County hit with 8-13 inches of rain. Overbank and structural flooding along Willow Waterhole Bayou and Brays Bayou. More than 400 structures flood in Harris County.
August 2017
Hurricane Harvey causes catastrophic flooding in Southeast Texas and Louisiana. Inflicting $125 billion in damages, it became the costliest hurricanes on record. In a four-day period, many areas received more than 40 to 60 inches of rainfall. With peak accumulations of 60.58 inches in Nederland, Texas, Harvey was the wettest Hurricane on record in the United States. The resulting floods inundated hundreds of thousands of homes, which displaced more than 30,000 people and prompted more than 17,000 rescues.
2017
The channel excavation is completed from Holcombe Blvd to upstream of Buffalo Speedway.
2018
The channel excavation is complete from upstream of Buffalo Speedway to upstream of IH-610.
September 2019
Tropical Storm Imelda formed quickly just off the Brazoria County coast, 15 miles southwest of Freeport, TX around Noon on Tuesday, September 17th. The storm moved inland near Freeport, TX shortly after becoming a tropical storm. No structural flooding was recorded in the Brays Watershed as a result of Tropical Storm Imelda.
2019
• Willow Waterhole Detention Basin is completed.
• Forest Hill Bridge is replaced.
Tropical Storm Imelda formed quickly just off the Brazoria County coast 15 miles south southwest of Freeport, TX around noon on Tuesday, September 17th and moved inland near Freeport, TX shortly after becoming a tropical storm. No structural flooding was recorded as a result of Tropical Storm Imelda. Brays Bayou stayed within banks.
In 2019 channel excavation from upstream of 610 to Fondren.
Forest Hill Bridge Replaced 2019
Willow Waterhole Detention Basin Completed 2019
In 2018 channel excavation from upstream of Buffalo Speedway to upstream of 610.
In 2017 channel excavation from Holcombe to upstream of Buffalo Speedway.
August Hurricane Harvey was a Category 4 hurricane that made landfall on Texas and Louisiana in August 2017, causing catastrophic flooding and many deaths. It was one of the costliest Hurricanes on record, inflicting $125 billion in damage, primarily from catastrophic rainfall-triggered flooding in the Houston metropolitan area and Southeast Texas. In a four-day period, many areas received more than 40 to 60 inches of rain as the system slowly meandered over eastern Texas and adjacent waters, causing unprecedented flooding. With peak accumulations of 60.58 inches in Nederland, Texas, Harvey was the wettest Hurricane on record in the United States. The resulting floods inundated hundreds of thousands of homes, which displaced more than 30,000 people and prompted more than 17,000 rescues.
May 26-27 – Memorial Day Flood. North and northwest Harris County hit with 8-13 inches of rain. Overbank and structural flooding along Willow Waterhole Bayou and Brays Bayou. More than 400 structures flood in Harris County.
April 17-18 - Tax Day Flood. Historic flood over northern and western Harris County results in seven fatalities. Average 12-16 inches of rain in 12 hours countywide; record pool levels in Addicks and Barker reservoirs. Estimated 9,820 structures flood in Harris County.
In 2015 Lidstone Bridge was Replaced.
In 2015 channel excavation from OST to Lidstone.
Eldridge Detention Basin Completed 2015
May 25-27 – Memorial Day Flood. More than 6,000 structures flood. Seven fatalities. Highest rainfall recorded in Buffalo and Brays watersheds. Nearly 11 inches in 3 hours on Brays Bayou.
In 2013 channel excavation completed from Ardmore to Holcombe.
In 2010 channel excavation completed from Lawndale to OST.
April 17-28 brings extensive flooding; Some highways close and water went out of banks along Brays Bayou. 100’s of structures flood on Bray Bayou. HCFCD records 24-hour rainfall of 7.6 inches at Brays Bayou and Bellaire.
In 2008 channel excavation completed from the Mouth at the Ship Channel to Lawndale and from Calhoun to Ardmore.
Author Storey Park Detention Basin Completed 2008
September – Hurricane Ike, 3rd costliest in U.S. history, strikes Galveston Island. Eleven deaths in Harris County. Storm surge swamps 2,500 structures; rainfall causes 1,200 more structures to flood. More than $28 billion in damage.
In 2008 channel excavation completed from the Mouth at the Ship Channel to Lawndale and from Calhoun to Ardmore.
Removed Tub Boat 2008
Old Westheimer Detention Basin Completed 2007
Fresh Water Marsh Completed 2005
Tropical storm brings record rainfall, causing over $5 billion in damages citywide, making it the costliest tropical storm in U.S. history. Five-day rainfall exceeded 20 inches within the Brays Bayou watershed.
Moderate flooding is recorded along Brays Bayou, flooding about 100 homes.
The first shovels to move dirt started in 1993 at Beltway 8 Detention Basin later becoming Arthur Storey Park.
Record level flooding is recorded along Brays Bayou, leaving over 300 homes flooded.
In the mid 1980’s US Corp of Engineering started studies of Brays Bayou.
Record level flooding is recorded along Brays Bayou, leaving approximately 1,000 homes and other structures flooded.
Brays Bayou rises out of its banks in some areas causing many homes to flood near the upper portions of the watershed.
Major thunderstorm causes flooding along several bayous across Harris County, producing minor damages to surrounding homes.
Rainfall reaches 13 inches along Brays Bayou, leaving the Texas Medical Center with heavy damages.
Major thunderstorms lead to flooding and damage to more than 100 homes causing an estimated $1 million in damages.
Heavy rains produce over 10 inches of rain recorded in 24 hours with damages estimated at $5 million.
Over 4 inches of rain recorded in just two hours due to intense rainstorm, flooding many areas.
Heaviest rainfall recorded in Harris County to date caused widespread evacuations.
Brays Bayou overflows due to intense rain, causing Bellaire and southeast Houston to be underwater and flooding 11,500 homes.
Extensive rainfall from a hurricane leads to flooding along Brays Bayou.
9.5 inches of rainfall causes extreme damage to many residences and businesses along Brays Bayou.
Canoes and small boats are the primary transportation near Rice University after a storm floods Brays Bayou.
Large storm causes Brays Bayou to flood, forcing hundreds of area residents to evacuate their homes.
Major flooding along Brays Bayou, resulting in all bridges leading into the city being underwater.