Richardson — City engineering staff on Monday presented proposed drainage candidates for a 2026 bond program and recommended focusing on high‑benefit flood‑prevention and erosion‑control elements within a shorter bond proposition.

Staff explained the city is organized into 12 drainage basins and reviewed recent condition assessments and watershed studies. On the largest single item, staff gave a total cost estimate of $25.2 million for a multi‑phase Lois Branch/Lois Lane project and described a four‑phase approach. "The total cost for this from stem to stern is $25,200,000," the presenter said; phases 1 and 2 were each estimated at about $4.9 million, with later phases carrying larger price tags including roadway, water/sewer and reconstruction work. Staff said implementing phases 1–2 first offers the most incremental benefit and would remove one home completely and partially remove up to three others from the mapped 100‑year floodplain in modeling.

Staff also presented an urban‑lakes candidate — Prairie Creek marsh dredging — with a staff estimate of $11.1 million. The presenter cautioned that dredging is costly because of environmental permitting and disposal of sediment; staff described the environmental and habitat benefits but noted limited direct flood‑capacity return on that investment.

Taken together, staff estimated the full drainage program at about $50.3 million after an escalation factor. To align with the council’s blocking exercise (targeting $15M–$20M propositions), staff proposed a $15 million package consisting of Lois Branch phases 1–2 and prioritized erosion‑control projects (about $3.5M with escalation). A $20 million option would add Hunt Branch Phase 2 (roughly $4.6M) to those items.

Councilmembers asked for clearer before/after flood‑extent visuals and urged staff to prioritize urgency and public safety. "I love how — this is a lot simpler than the parks as far as the options we're being given," Councilmember Corcoran said, adding he was open to staff prioritization but wanted Prairie Creek erosion needs considered if budget tweaks could accommodate it. Staff said they will refine maps and provide clearer impact visualizations for future briefings.

What’s next: Staff will return with more detailed maps showing modeled water‑surface impacts for proposed phases, a refined prioritized list of erosion control sites, and a suggested $15M or $20M package for council consideration prior to any bond decision.