Montgomery County announced April 17 that the Harris County Flood Control District submitted a grant application for the San Jacinto River Regional Watershed Study to the Texas Division of Emergency Management, April 16.

The $2.5 million study—a joint project between Montgomery County, the San Jacinto River Authority, the City of Houston and HCFCD—will identify ways to improve the county’s flood notification capabilities, as well as specific flood control projects, according to a news release.

“With this study, we will gain a better knowledge of our Montgomery County streams and watersheds, a more complete flood warning system and the ability to identify specific projects that could reduce the rise of flooding in the future,” Montgomery County Judge Craig Doyal said in a statement.

According to the release, up to $1.875 million in federal funds could be allocated for the study if the grant is awarded, through the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Hazard Mitigation Grant Program. If the full $2.5 million is received, the local match would be $625,000—a cost which would be shared between Montgomery County, SJRA and HCFCD.

“I am thankful to U.S. Rep. Kevin Brady, Gov. Abbott and state officials for these funds and I appreciate the spirit of partnership from Harris County, the HCFCD and the SJRA to work together and help solve these regional flooding problems,” Doyal said in a statement.

The proposed study would examine a total of 535.6 miles of streams, including the west and east forks of the San Jacinto River, the San Jacinto River, Lake Creek, Cypress Creek, Little Cypress Creek, Spring Creek, Willow Creek, Caney Creek, Peach Creek, Luce Bayou, Tarkington Bayou and Jackson Bayou.

According to the release, the goals of the study are to prepare a plan to integrate flood warning information into a shared system that can be utilized by all parties to make informed decisions; coordinate with flood responders to develop a consistent communications protocol and action plan; recommend strategies to reduce flood risk and prepare a plan to implement the recommendations; and develop programs that educate decision-makers and the public on the extent of the San Jacinto River Basin.

For more information about the study, click here.