A transformative reservoir project has gained momentum, as the Brazos River Authority approved funding for a contract to deliver a critical surge of water supply, not just locally, but with the potential to improve the overall management of water supply for the BRA system. The BRA Board of Directors, at its bimonthly meeting March 24, 2025, approved a $9.8 million contract to fund a portion of the permitting and design phase of the Allens Creek Reservoir, a proposed pumped storage reservoir planned for the lower Brazos River Basin. “It is an exciting project,” said Jon King, BRA’s chief strategic officer. “There aren’t a lot of projects we get to be involved in that have the potential amount of water that Allens Creek does.” The contract with the engineering consulting firm Gannett Fleming, Inc. will include professional services for the extensive studies and analysis required for federal permitting to build the reservoir near the confluence of Allens Creek and the Brazos River. Between 2030 and 2080, the population of the Brazos River Basin is expected to increase by a staggering 4.6 million people, bringing the total up to more than 10 million residents, according to the 2026 Regional Water Plan.