U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Galveston District Commander Col. Rhett Blackmon, left, speaks with Brazos River Flood Gates Lock Operator Wade Stepp, bottom, about the vessel monitoring system at the flood gates in Freeport, Texas, June 6, 2023. Blackmon made a visit to the flood gates to speak with staff about current projects and maintenance related to the project. Located seven miles southwest of Freeport, Texas, the Brazos River Flood Gates have been instrumental in controlling sand and silt deposits and aiding navigation at the intersection of the Brazos River and Gulf Intercoastal Waterway since 1943. U.S. Army photo by Trevor Welsh.