Sugar Land neighborhood gets new pump in time for hurricane season

Staff Reports

A Sugar Land neighborhood where nearly 600 homes flooded during Hurricane Harvey now has a massive new pump working to protect its residents and their homes, just in time for the start of the 2023 Hurricane season.

The pump moves 150,000 gallons of water per minute, protecting Sugar Land's Riverstone neighborhood. It works alongside a pre-existing pump that moves 80,000 gallons of water per minute.

Levee Improvement Districts 13 and 15 worked together on the $9.1 million project, their most significant major capital improvement for flood protection for Riverstone since Hurricane Harvey.

A ribbon cutting at the Steep Bank Creek Pump

Officials held a ribbon-cutting at the Steep Bank Creek Pump Station in Fort Bend County's Precinct 3 commemorating the project's completion on Friday. Courtesy Fort Bend County Precinct 3

Station in Fort Bend County's Precinct 3 commemorated the project's completion on Friday.

“Safety and security are critical priorities for me and my team,” Fort Bend County Commissioner Andy Meyers said in a press release. “Hurricane Harvey reinforced the importance of our levee systems and prompted these improvements, which were completed without raising taxes.”

In 2017, the devastating effects of Hurricane Harvey resulted from unprecedented rainfall and coincidental flood levels for the Brazos River. viding a holistic approach to flourishing by providing safe, secure, and accessible housing and supportive services in Fort Bend County,” he said.

The Steep Bank Creek Pump Station had a total capacity to pump 80,000 gallons of water per minute. Today it can pump 230 gallons of water per minute, enough to have kept Riverstone from flooding during Harvey.

Shannon Stavinhola, executive director of Parks Youth Ranch, a Richmond camp for abused and neglected children, told the commissioners that the other piece the group focuses on is the education of youth dealing with homelessness. Two of the youth served by the ranch recently graduated from Lamar CISD, including one who lived in a homeless shelter in downtown Houston was was commuting to the district.

“He had the love and support of his counselors and teachers and administrators to make sure that he had everything that he needed to get finished. And we were able to bring him home to Fort Bend County and he walked the stage,” she said. Another student, she said, had been “in the system” since the age of two. When she first made contact with Parks Youth Ranch, she was two years behind in school, but was able to graduate on time. Both students are planning to pursue post-secondary education, Stanvinhola said.

Brandon Baca, CEO of Attack Poverty!, a faith-based group based in Stafford, said there are thousands of families in Fort Bend County are dealing with the prospect of homelessness.

“We won’t continue to look away. It’s what we do every day. We step up and support each family with care and dignity. In this collective effort, we want to continue to do that. It’s just the right and important thing to do,” he said. The commissioners court is expected to take up the matter again on June 13.

Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce to host State of Meadows Place talk

On Thursday, June 1, from 11:30-1 p.m., the Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce will host Meadows Place Mayor Charles Jessup in a “State of the City” talk.

Jessup has been mayor of Meadows Place, which this year turns 40 years old, for 15 years. During his talk, he will discuss the history of the one-square-mile city, how the landscape around it has changed over the years, and how the city has attracted new business despite having limited available land.

Staff Reports Meadows Place Mayor Charles Jessup will give a “State of the City” talk at the Fort Bend Chamber of Commerce on June 1. Courtesy City of Meadows Place

He will also give an economic forecast including infrastructure, construction projects, and notable uses of bond money and grants.

The luncheon discussion will take place at the Cham- ber offices, 445 Common Green Blvd., Sugar Land. For more information and to register, visit fortbendchamber.com.