On September 16, the LID 15 Board of Directors lowered the District’s 2024 tax rate to $0.26 (per $100 of assessed value). This is a $0.04, or 13%, reduction compared to the 2022 tax rate, and it will lower the average homeowner’s tax bill by $96. Over the past ten years, LID 15 has reduced the total tax rate by 67%. These decisions by the LID 15 Board of Directors continue to reflect their commitment to the District’s Mission Statement:

“Our Mission, is a COMMITMENT to provide the HIGHEST quality flood plain reclamation, flood protection, detention and outfall drainage for the community in the most cost-effective manner.”

Grants for Hurricane Beryl Recovery

LID 15 is currently working on grant requests with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). These federal grant programs will reimburse 75% of eligible costs related to Hurricane Beryl recovery. LID 15 is now complete with emergency tree removals, but hundreds of damaged trees still need to be removed from the bayous and creeks around Riverstone. The estimated cost of all storm debris removal is several hundred thousand dollars, so LID 15 is working closely with FEMA and USDA to minimize the ultimate cost to taxpayers. However, to be eligible for reimbursement some recovery work cannot begin until the grants are awarded and the necessary approvals are still pending. LID 15 will update residents as soon as grants are approved and a schedule to complete all Hurricane Beryl recovery is finalized.

Fort Bend County Levee Improvement District No. 15 (LID 15) is actively monitoring Tropical Storm Francine in the Gulf of Mexico. Francine is expected to become a hurricane when it reaches the northwestern Gulf coast on Wednesday, September 11. However, the probable path does not include LID 15 and there is a low probability of tropical storm force winds. The Brazos River is also at a low level that does not impact drainage inside the LID 15 levee.  Based on the current forecast, the District does not anticipate that the pump stations will be operated, but operators are on stand-by if the forecast changes.

During any heavy rain event there may be street ponding or flooding if the storm drains are overwhelmed and back up.  As rainfall decreases, the storm sewers will catch up, and any water in the streets will recede.  Never drive into high water.

National Hurricane Center
National Weather Service

Hurricane Beryl caused extensive tree damage throughout Riverstone, including the LID 15 levees and drainage channels. LID 15 has removed the highest priority tree debris from homes and other structures. An additional round of tree removal will be scheduled in September to address trees on fences and other hazards. However, the majority of Beryl storm debris removal from LID 15 property has been delayed due to changes in Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) regulations. The City of Sugar Land and their debris removal contractor are not able to provide the services LID 15 needs, and the Interlocal Agreement no longer meets FEMA reimbursement requirements.

To address the significant amount of storm damage, LID 15 will start an emergency bidding process in September. The District must hire its own contractor to complete Hurricane Beryl storm debris removal. In order for LID 15 to remain eligible for 75% FEMA reimbursement, the formal bidding process will take several weeks to complete before a contract is awarded.

While LID 15 will remove all eligible storm debris, residents are reminded that any damage to private property caused by downed trees or limbs remains the responsibility of the property owner. Additional information on LID 15’s Tree Maintenance and Removal Policy is available on line through the District website: www.fblid15.com.