March 19, 2025

LID 15 was recently awarded a $147,000 Emergency Watershed Protection (EWP) Grant from the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) National Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). The EWP grant will fund the final phase of Hurricane Beryl debris removal in the LID 15 bayous and drainage channels pictured below.

Hurricane Beryl caused significant tree damage when it hit the community on July 8, 2024. Ater the storm, LID 15 took immediate action to remove hazardous trees that posed a threat to homes and property. The EWP grant will allow LID 15 to complete all debris removal and receive a 75% reimbursement from NRCS.

Based on the current schedule, the bidding process for the debris removal contract will begin in April, and a contract will be awarded in May. The beginning of June is the most optimistic date for the debris removal contract to start. All Hurricane Beryl cleanup is expected to be complete by August.

Since Hurricane Beryl, LID 15 has worked closely with NRCS to minimize the total cost to taxpayers. Unfortunately, for debris removal costs to remain eligible for NRCS reimbursement the work could not begin until the EWP grant was awarded. LID 15 thanks the residents of Riverstone for their patience and support during this final phase of Hurricane Beryl recovery.

For any questions, please contact LID 15 directly: https://www.fblid15.com/contact-us.

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.