What we reported

Montgomery County officials requested federal funding last fall, including $1.2 million for a flood mitigation study and $95.5 million for flood mitigation projects, which could include potential construction of reservoirs. The flood mitigation study would examine watersheds in the county, including Cypress, Spring, Peach, Caney and Lake creeks as well as the West Fork of the San Jacinto River. The county sustained major flooding three times in two years, including the April and May 2016 floods and Hurricane Harvey in August.

The latest

County officials are working with U.S. Rep. Kevin Brady, R-The Woodlands, to request mitigation funding for the county. The U.S. House passed an $81 billion disaster assistance package for recent hurricanes and the 2017 wildfires in December. It provides funding to the Army Corp. of Engineers, which will distribute the funds to local municipalities, Brady said. The bill must be approved by the Senate in January.

What’s next

County Judge Craig Doyal said Congress must approve the county’s request for funding before the county can move forward with any projects. If approved, the federal government would grant funds to the state of Texas before county officials could apply for mitigation funds, Doyal said. This story is one update from the Annual Community Guide. View the full list of Top 10 stories to follow in 2018 here.