Regional Drainage Improvement Program
Improving Drainage. Reducing Flood Risk. Protecting Bellaire.
This project is focused on enhancing Bellaire’s drainage infrastructure to reduce flood risk and improve stormwater management across the city. The improvements will strengthen the citywide drainage network, helping protect homes, businesses, and public spaces from future flooding. By reducing the potential for property damage and safeguarding public health and safety, this project is an important investment in the long-term resilience of the Bellaire community.
Cypress Ditch: A Critical Drainage Backbone
Cypress Ditch serves as a major outfall for a large portion of the City of Bellaire, draining stormwater into Brays Bayou. Due to the area’s low-lying topography and increasing intensity of rainfall events, Cypress Ditch plays a pivotal role in managing flood risk for both residential and commercial areas. Over time, the system has become undersized relative to the demands placed on it, contributing to widespread flooding during major storm events.
To address this challenge, the City is investing in capacity upgrades and regional detention solutions along the ditch corridor. These improvements are designed to reduce peak flows, lower flood elevations, and provide much-needed storage volume during storms. Enhancing Cypress Ditch’s performance is a core component of the Regional Drainage Infrastructure Program (RDIP) and aligns with the broader goal of building a more resilient stormwater system.
Planned enhancements to Cypress Ditch include storm sewer upgrades, increased surface detention, and system-wide hydraulic modeling to ensure long-term performance. These improvements are supported by extensive technical studies and public input gathered during the development of the Master Drainage Concept Plan. The City has identified key parcels for detention and continues to explore funding and partnership opportunities to bring these projects to life.
While the improvements to Cypress Ditch are just one piece of the RDIP, they are among the most impactful in terms of volume mitigation and flood reduction potential. The first phase alone is expected to reduce flood risk for hundreds of homes and create a model for regional collaboration. These efforts represent a forward-looking investment in Bellaire’s infrastructure and quality of life.
