For more than a week, KGTX 7 has been investigating concerns from property owners along FM 517 who say recent flooding has become more severe than what they experienced in the past.

Among those raising concerns is Dana Lewis, owner of Bayou Wildlife Zoo.

Lewis told KGTX 7 that flooding had not been an issue six months ago. She said recent high water forced the zoo to close for several days, even after the rain had stopped, because water from the bayou continued rising and flooded the entrance to the property.

Lewis said the closure had significant financial consequences, preventing employees from working and disrupting operations. She also expressed concern that repeated flooding could eventually threaten the lives of animals at the zoo, particularly its exotic animals.

She said she is not aware of any changes on the zoo property that would explain the flooding and has contacted Drainage District No. 1 in Santa Fe, whose representatives met with her at the property.

Another nearby property owner, Kathi Lacasse, said approximately nine of her ten acres were covered by floodwater during recent storms.

Lacasse told KGTX 7 she is concerned not only about the possibility of floodwaters reaching her home but also about the welfare of animals on the property. She said she also worries continued flooding could force tenants who house animals on her property to relocate, creating additional financial hardship.

Several property owners and community members have questioned whether continued residential development in the area could be contributing to worsening flooding. Seeking answers, KGTX 7 met with Galveston County Commissioner Hank Dugie, who explained that flooding in the area is influenced by several factors occurring at the same time.

According to Dugie, heavy rainfall combined with high tides and storm surge from a tropical storm or hurricane can prevent floodwater from draining into the bay, causing water to remain in low-lying areas even after rainfall ends, especially after consecutive days of rain.

He described the county as a tidally influenced coastal community that presents significant engineering challenges and said regional officials are working to create additional drainage capacity so floodwater has more pathways to reach the bay.

Regarding Bayou Wildlife Zoo, Dugie said he could not specifically explain why flooding appears to have become worse there in recent months.

KGTX 7 also asked Dugie whether continued residential development could be contributing to the flooding concerns raised by nearby property owners. Rather than attributing the flooding to new construction, Dugie said today’s subdivisions are subject to much stricter stormwater detention and drainage regulations than developments built decades ago. He said developers are required to include flood mitigation measures, and some voluntarily exceed the minimum requirements.

Dugie said governments can require only a limited amount of stormwater detention before property-rights issues may arise. He added that local governments should continue reviewing and strengthening drainage regulations as new data becomes available while ensuring existing requirements are enforced.

When asked about enforcement, Dugie said he was not aware of any citations issued to developers or homeowners associations for failing to control flooding. He said any deviations from approved drainage plans should ideally be identified during required inspections rather than after problems develop.

Dugie said area local governments are working with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on the Lower Clear Creek and Dickinson Bayou Watershed Project, a regional effort involving League City, Friendswood, Galveston County, Harris County, Dickinson and other communities across four counties.

Potential improvements under consideration include bypass channels, tunnels, flood gates, pump stations and other projects designed to move more floodwater safely toward the bay instead of into neighborhoods. Dugie said the goal is to reduce flood levels by several feet during major flood events rather than just inches.

He said the project remains in the feasibility stage, with studies expected to continue through approximately 2028 before funding decisions and construction plans are finalized.

While those long-term projects continue, Lewis and Lacasse said their concerns are immediate. Both told KGTX 7 they hope solutions are identified before another major flooding event impacts their properties again.

Dugie encouraged property owners with drainage concerns to stay engaged by reporting maintenance issues to the appropriate authorities, encouraging cities and drainage districts to adopt the strongest development standards allowed by law, and advocating for state and federal funding to accelerate long-term infrastructure improvements. He said drainage must remain a top priority for Gulf Coast communities, and that public involvement helps keep the issue at the forefront.