LID 15 Hurricane Beryl recovery remains on hold until an Emergency Watershed Protection Grant is approved by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). In the immediate aftermath of the storm, LID 15 completed emergency tree removals that threatened homes and property. However, hundreds of damaged trees still need to be removed from the bayous and creeks around Riverstone.

Prior to Hurricane Beryl the LID 15 recovery plan relied on assistance from the City of Sugar Land and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). After the storm it was determined that the LID 15 Interlocal Agreement with the City no longer met FEMA reimbursement requirements, so another emergency funding source was needed. LID 15 identified the USDA Emergency Watershed Protection Grant opportunity and applied immediately. NRCS completed the LID 15 Preliminary Damage Assessment on September 25, 2024, but final grant approval remains on hold until environmental and cultural resource assessments are completed.

When approved, the USDA grant will reimburse 75% of eligible costs related to Hurricane Beryl recovery. The cost of all storm debris removal may exceed two hundred thousand dollars, so LID 15 is working closely with federal agencies to minimize the ultimate cost to taxpayers. Unfortunately, for any costs to be eligible for reimbursement the work cannot begin until the grant is awarded. LID 15 will update residents as soon as the USDA grant is approved, and a recovery schedule is finalized.

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