Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham announced on April 1 that the Texas General Land Office (GLO) approved more than $72 million in regional mitigation funds to improve Texas streets, drainage, and sewer systems. Fort Bend County will receive $25.8 million from that funding for Brazos River erosion protection, according to a statement from Fort Bend County Precinct 4 Commissioner Andy Meyers.

"Brazos River erosion protection is an issue that's one of my priorities,” said Meyers in an email to the Katy Times. “I initiated efforts to fund solutions for the Simonton Pinch Point of the Brazos River when I chaired the Water Resources Committee at the Houston-Galveston Area Council (H-GAC). So, I deeply appreciate Commissioner Buckingham securing millions of dollars of additional funding for Brazos River erosion protection. The announcement on Monday is in addition to other GLO grants I've worked hard to bring to Fort Bend County to address continued erosion along the Brazos River to protect people, homes, and businesses in our area. Thank you, Commissioner Buckingham, for addressing these critical needs.”

The mitigation funds are also designated to improve streets, drainage and sewer systems in the cities of Bedias, Bremond, Galveston, Liberty, Midway and San Augustine, as well as Hardin County, according to a press release from the GLO

"Every day the GLO works with communities to ensure federal funding is administered effectively and efficiently as the federal process allows," said Commissioner Buckingham in the press release. "Our efforts to streamline federal funding procedures help protect communities and the homes, businesses, and local government infrastructure that make Texas a wonderful place to live. These Regional Mitigation Program projects were prioritized at the local level by the Texans who will directly benefit. The GLO is proud to work with our local partners on cutting bureaucratic red tape to make Texas communities more resilient against future disasters."