Brazos River Dashboard

The hydrologic conditions and the hydrologic data provided are for informational purposes only. The Corps of Engineers does not warrant the correctness or the accuracy of the hydrologic data or the hydrologic conditions presented herein. Official data can be obtained by writing to the Water Management Section, Galveston District Corps of Engineers, 2000 Fort Point Road,Galveston,TX 77550

Brazos River Stream Flow and Stream Water Elevation

Streamflow - Brazos River near Richmond	Stage - Brazos River near Richmond, TX
Streamflow - Brazos River near Rosharon	Stage - Brazos River near Rosharon
Streamflow - Brazos River near West Columbia	Stage- Brazos River near West Columbia

Important Links

Brazos Links

Brazos River Authority

USGS Old Brazos River near Freeport

Brazos River Flood Gates

The Brazos River rises at the confluence of its Salt Fork and Double Mountain Fork near the eastern boundary of Stonewall County (at 33°16' N, 100°01' W) and runs 840 miles across Texas to its mouth on the Gulf of Mexico, two miles south of Freeport in brazoria County (at 28°53' N, 95°23' W). The two forks emerge from the Caprock 150 miles above the confluence, thus forming a continuous watershed 1,050 miles long, which extends from New Mexico to the Gulf of Mexico and comprises 44,620 square miles, 42,000 of which are in Texas. It is the longest river in Texas and the one with the greatest discharge. It has all of the varied characteristics of a trans-state stream, from the plains "draw" drainage through canyons at the breaks of the Llano Estacado, the West Texas rolling plains, and the Grand Prairie hill region, to its meandering course through the Coastal Plain. The elevation of the streambed at the confluence of the two forks is 1,500 feet above sea level. From this point the Brazos descends to the Gulf at a rate diminishing from 3½ feet a mile to one-half foot a mile.

The Brazos River Flood Gates (BRFG) is situated at the Lower end of the Brazos River on the Texas Gulf Coast. There are two flood gates-the East and West gates, both of which have the dimensions stated in the table below. An average of 50 vessels a day pass through the Brazos River floodgates. The Brazos River flood gates provide navigation access through the GIWW, assisting vessels crossing the intersection of the Brazos River. The brFG and CRL constitute the western portion of the GIWW, both of which provide shallow-draft navigation between deep-draft ports along the Texas coast and connects these ports to the inland navigation system comprised of the Mississippi River and its tributaries.

Flooding events within the BRFG area are primarily from high river flows after heavy rains upstream and/or hurricanes and tropical storms from the Gulf Coast that cause severe flooding. During flood and high river flow events, a hazard exists for all traffic necessitating the need to provide increased traffic management. In the past, the industry had self-imposed restrictions by individual companies, on how and when they transit during high flows, but that role is now performed by the Lockmaster. The Lockmaster is charged with operation of the gates on the Brazos River by issuing gate closures and openings based on the procedures presented in the “Guidelines for Traffic Restrictions and Operation of Flood Gates” below. When the discharges are > 20,000 cfs and river velocities exceed 2.0 mph navigation restrictions are imposed by the Lockmaster according to the procedures below

USACE Water Management provides information/data support for implementation and execution of navigation restrictions for the locks on the GIWW,Galveston District at the Brazos River crossings. This helps achieve USACE navigation mission of providing safe, reliable, efficient, effective,and environmentally sustainable waterborne transportation systems for movement of commerce, national security needs, and recreation.

Flood Gate Dimensions

Length	Width	Maximum Tow Length	Maximum Tow Width
750 feet	75 feet	1180 feet	55 feet

The left image below shows the location of the Brazos River flood gates and the Image on the right shows the flood gates on the East and West flanks of the Brazos River as well as the Gulf Intracosatal Water way.

Guidelines for Traffic Restrictions and Operation of Flood Gates

The procedures summarzied in the table below shall be used to guide navigation restrictions for the locks and gates on the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway (GIWW) in the Galveston District at the Brazos River crossings.
When the discharges are > 20,000 cfs and river velocities exceed 2.0 mph navigation restrictions are imposed by the Lockmaster according to the procedures below. Two consecutive velocity readings below 2 mph are required for the river restriction to be lifted.

Condition	Water Velocity/Height Differential	Restriction Enforced	Restriction Period	Comments/Notes
Normal operations	Low flows < 2.0 miles per hour	NONE	NONE	Unless otherwise directed by the lockmaster, no restrictions will be enacted when river flows are measured at less than 2.0mph, as measured by the project.
Restriction Level-1	Flows are ≥ 2.0 miles per hour or height differential between 0.7 to 1.8 feet	Restrict commercial traffic passage to one loaded or two empty barges	24-hour day	When river flows are equal to or greater than 2.0mph, as measured by the project or if there is a height differential between 0.7 feet to 1.8 feet, as measured by the project at any gate, the lockmaster shall restrict commercial traffic passage to one loaded or two empty barges. This condition will exist throughout the 24-hour day Height differential is the difference measured in feet between the water level in the river and that in the waterway when the floodgates or locks are closed.
Restriction Level 2	Flows ≥5.0 miles/hour but ≤7.0 miles/hour	Restrict commercial traffic passage to one loaded or one empty barge	During daylight hours but all traffic shall be stopped during night time	When river flows are equal to or greater than 5.0mph and less than 7.0mph, as measured by the project, the lockmaster shall restrict commercial traffic passage to one loaded or one empty barge. This condition will exist during daylight hours. During night time hours, all traffic will be stopped
Restriction Level 3	River Flows ≥7.0 miles/hour	ALL TRAFFIC STOPPED	- Untill River flows drop below 7.0 miles/hour	When river flows are equal to or greater than 7.0mph, as measured by the project, all traffic will stopped.
Restriction Level 4	Height differential is ≥ 1.8 feet	ALL TRAFFIC STOPPED	- Untill River height differential is < 1.8feet	If at any time the height differential is greater than 1.8 feet, as measured by the project at any gate, all traffic will be stopped.