Fort Bend Flood Management Committee

LID 15 has joined the Fort Bend Economic Development Council (FBEDC) with other levee districts in the County to form the FBFMC (Fort Bend Flood Management Committee).

The purpose of this coalition is to come together to form a strong, collective voice to address federal, state, and local regulations and guidelines that affect leveed areas.  You can follow this committee on the FBEDC at the following link: https://fortbendcounty.com/about-fbedc/committees/flood-management-committee

The FBFMC has engaged consultants to work with the member districts to identify the issues and formulate legislative relief so we continue to benefit from the many years of successful flood management here in FBC.

In 2021, the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) changed how flood insurance (National Flood Insurance Program, NFIP) rates are calculated for your home and property.  A new rating system called Risk Rating 2.0 (RR 2.0) was introduced.  RR 2.0 supposably allows FEMA to determine premium rates per property based on factors such as proximity to a flooding source, 1st floor elevation, replacement cost of rebuilding, etc.  This is not a complete list because FEMA has not disclosed exactly how the rate engine is formulated.

In the past, premium rates were determined by mapped flood zones.  In the 100-year floodplain (aka, special flood hazard area or SFHA) federally-backed or regulated lenders must require that flood insurance be purchased and maintained.  Leveed districts in Ft. Bend County are accredited by FEMA, thus avoiding the SFHA designation. As a result, homeowners received Preferred Rate Policies, saving hundreds of dollars, and were exempt from this mandatory purchase of flood insurance.

Under the new NFIP RR 2.0, flood insurance has become a major concern as premium rates have increased, policy holder numbers across the country have started to decrease, and new guidelines are being implemented that potentially could have a negative effect on us and other levee districts.

Some of the current steps being taken by the EDC and FBFMC to address this concern are:

  1. Setting the goal of:  Affordable, voluntary flood insurance for 100-year accredited levee protected areas,
  2. Requesting that accredited levees continue to exempt protected communities from SFHA designation and mandatory flood insurance purchase,
  3. Requiring FEMA to be transparent with the RR 2.0 methodologies and disclose the full actuarial premium on all NFIP flood insurance bills,
  4. Ensuring the data being used by FEMA to set RR 2.0 rates in leveed areas is correct.

Through our participation in the FBFMC under the EDC, this District will continue to monitor and challenge any change that goes against the best interest of our residents and businesses.

We trust you will stay engaged and support our efforts through this coalition on your behalf.

LID 15 Lowers Taxes

We have good news!  On September 19, 2022, the LID 15 Board of Directors unanimously voted to reduce LID 15’s 2022 tax rate from $0.405 last year to $0.34 (per $100 of assessed value). This is a $0.065, or 16%, reduction compared to the 2021 tax rate, and it will lower the average homeowner’s tax bill by $170. Over the past eight years, LID 15 has reduced the total tax rate by more than 50%. During the same period of time, LID 15 has continued to improve flood control infrastructure throughout the community, including a partnership with LID 19 to expand the Steep Bank Creek Pump Station.

Years of planning and fiscal responsibility will allow LID 15 to finance the final developer reimbursement in 2023 with cash on hand versus issuing bonds (with additional, long-term debt). This decision will save LID 15 taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars in interest payments and bond issuance costs over the next 30 years. During a year of high inflation, the District also worked closely with all vendors to manage expenses and actually decrease the operating budget for the next fiscal year. 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.”

LID 15 Drainage Easement Encroachment Policy

Homeowners throughout Riverstone continue to improve their property by constructing pools, decks, gazebos, fire pits and even boat docks.  LID 15 supports resident’s efforts the improve their homes and enhance the appearance and enjoyment of our neighborhoods.  These individual investments help Riverstone remain a premier community to call home.

The Board of Directors of LID 15 would like to remind residents about some special requirements to consider before planning for backyard improvements. All homes in the District that are next to a lake include a LID 15 Drainage Easement.  The Drainage Easement includes all property within 30 feet of the concrete lake edge.  Any improvements constructed within the 30-foot Drainage Easement must be pre-approved by LID 15.  The Board recently approved a resolution to establish clear policies and procedures for requesting encroachment approval before construction.

There are several reasons why the District must maintain this easement, including that, during heavy rains, the drainage system is designed fill in these lower backyard areas that are close to the lake.  Any backyard improvements need to preserve this critical flood storage.  Another purpose of the Drainage Easement is future access to repair and/or maintain LID 15’s detention and drainage facilities.  At some point, the concrete edges around the lakes will need repair or replacement, and the community will need unobstructed access around the lake.

Typical improvements that are permitted within the LID 15 Drainage Easement include sidewalks, stairs, and flat work like patios and decks.  Improvements that are not permitted within the easement include swimming pools, vertical structures like gazebos, and most elevated surfaces that require a retaining wall and do not “step down” with the slope of the property.  The concrete edge around the lake also includes a paved shelf below the waterline.  LID 15 created a dock design standard that will allow residents to construct boat docks without damaging the bottom of the lake.

Residents can submit plans for backyard improvements electronically to generalmanager@fblid15.com, and the designs are reviewed monthly by the Board of Directors.  A deposit amount of $2,500 is required to begin the review process and will be used to reimburse the District for plan review costs. Please consult your property survey (which should have been provided during closing) early in the process to avoid complications in the future.  If your property includes the Drainage Easement, the survey should reflect that.

As a reminder, all LID 15 residents should continue to contact the Riverstone Homeowners Association before making any exterior improvements.  For the latest HOA information please refer to:  riverstone.com/residents-compliance

LID 15 DRAINAGE EASEMENTS

LID 15 DRAINAGE EASEMENTS

SAMPLE - TYPICAL APPROVED ENCROACHMMENTS

SAMPLE – TYPICAL APPROVED ENCROACHMMENTS

SAMPLE – UNACCEPTABLE ENCROACHEMNTS

SAMPLE – UNACCEPTABLE ENCROACHEMNTS