The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has formally approved Phase 2 of the Lower Clear Creek and Dickinson Bayou Flood Mitigation Study, marking a major milestone for regional flood prevention efforts.

According to a joint press release from the City of League City and Galveston County, local officials traveled to Washington, D.C. last month to advocate for the project. The delegation included Galveston County Commissioner Hank Dugie, League City Mayor Nick Long, and League City Manager John Baumgartner. The team met with the Assistant Secretary of the Army to press for support, which has now been granted.

League City and Galveston County have been leading the charge in flood mitigation since 2022, coordinating with over a dozen entities to complete Phase 1 of the study. That phase was included in the Water Resource Development Act passed by Congress and involved both small and large projects aimed at reducing floodwater levels during major weather events.

Mayor Long praised the Corps’ decision, stating, “The Army Corps joining as a federal partner is a huge victory for the project and our region. I’m proud that League City has been a leading voice in the flood relief effort for so many years, along with the County and others.”

Phase 2 will now focus on funding strategies for larger-scale projects identified during Phase 1. These include potential underground drainage tunnels along Clear Creek, bypass channels near Dickinson Bayou, detention basins, and flood-control infrastructure such as gates and pumps near Galveston Bay. The ultimate goal is to enhance the flow and storage of water across both watersheds, reducing the threat to lives and property.

“For those seeking real drainage solutions, this is the best position we have been in, as a region, for more than fifty years,” Commissioner Dugie said. “Together our coalition has remained focused on the task at hand and today’s announcement is a testament to that.”

Photo Credit: John Dougan, Creative Commons