When Hurricane Harvey struck the Greater Houston metro, League City residents saw significant flooding in and around their homes. Neighborhoods saw flood waters rise to about a foot, according to city drainage study documents.

Since then, officials have pursued several drainage projects to prevent future flooding.

At a glance: One ongoing $5 million effort—the Lower Clear Creek and Dickinson Bayou Watershed study—aims to make “transformative improvements” to reduce flood elevations, said Christopher Sims, the city’s executive director of planning and development. Rooted in a 2023 drainage study, construction is also underway in League City’s Historic District to install 24- and 36-inch pipes and storm boxes beneath roadside ditches on Wisconsin Avenue, Third Street and Fourth Street. The $66,000 project is expected to be completed by spring 2026.

“You can’t fix all the issues instantly ... but from where we were during Harvey to where we are today, we are pretty proud of the changes we’ve made,” League City City Manager John Baumgartner said.

• Fire protection
• Police and emergency services
• Garbage services

• Nov. 25, 6:30-8 p.m.
• Free
• Lindale Church, 503 Reid St., Houston

• Nov. 26, 11 a.m.-2 p.m.
• Free
• Salem Community Center, 22601 Lutheran Church Road, Tomball

• Nov. 27, 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
• Free (admission)
• 12100 Champion Forest Drive, Houston

The U.S. Department of Transportation and Federal Aviation Administration on Nov. 17 lifted a flight reduction emergency order for 40 airports, including George Bush Intercontinental Airport and William P. Hobby Airport.

What's happening: The FAA safety team indicated a steady decline in staff-trigger events in air traffic control facilities, such as delays and cancellations, and recommended that normal operations resume across the national airspace system, according to a Nov. 17 news release from the administration. 

According to previous Community Impact reporting, "high impact airports" such as IAH and HOU were ordered early November to cut flights by 10% in response to air traffic controller shortages due to the federal government shutdown, which ended Nov. 12. Federal employees, including air traffic controllers and some pilots, were not paid during this time.

One more detail: The FAA reported eight staffing triggers—an alert of insufficient staffing at an air control facility—Nov. 15 and only one on Nov. 16 compared to a record-high of 81 on Nov. 8, according to the release. 

Community Impact is seeking League City residents who would like to share input on the upcoming Grand Parkway expansion in League City. If you are interested, please reach out to [email protected].