Tropical Storm Harold Update

Fort Bend County Levee Improvement District No. 15 (LID 15) continues to actively monitor Tropical Storm Harold in the Gulf of Mexico. The probable path of Tropical Storm Harold does not include LID 15, and the District is currently forecasted to receive very little rain. The latest forecast and information from the National Weather Service is included below (https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/graphics_at4.shtml?start#contents ). The Brazos River is also at low levels that do not impact drainage inside the LID 15 levee.

The LID 15 pump stations and portable pumps are exercised monthly, and operators are always available to run the pumps, if needed. 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.

 

Yard Drainage and Encroachments

Planning to improve your yard?

Are you planning any outdoor improvements around your home? LID 15 reminds all residents to think about drainage when considering modifications to your yard. The lots in LID 15 are designed to carry water from the backyard and out to the street, as shown in graphic below. A brief video also highlights the importance of this lot design and not restricting drainage with fill material or paving.

Is your home adjacent to any of the lakes in Riverstone? If yes, then you likely have a LID 15 Drainage Easement in your backyard. Please refer to the District’s Policy that outlines what can and cannot be constructed in the LID 15 Drainage Easement.

For all outdoor modifications, LID 15 residents should also contact Riverstone Homeowners Association: https://www.riverstone.com/residents-compliance

Construction Update: Steep Bank Creek Pump Station

Three new pumps at the Steep Bank Creek Pump Station are now operational, creating 150,000 gallons per minute (GPM) of additional pumping capacity. Fort Bend County Levee Improvement District No. 15 (LID 15) partnered with Fort Bend County Levee Improvement District No. 19 (LID 19) to improve flood control in the Steep Bank Creek watershed, which includes the eastern portion of LID 15. The expanded pump station is located inside LID 19 on Thompson Ferry Road, but this flood control facility is jointly operated by LID 15 and LID 19.

The Steep Bank Creek Pump Station was originally constructed with four pumps that combined remove up to 80,000 GPM.  The three new pumps increase the total pump capacity to 230,000 GPM. The facility is also home to 12 mobile pumps that can produce an additional 80,000 GPM. When combined these improvements represent a 388% increase in pumping capacity since Hurricane Harvey.

The four original pumps included a natural gas-powered generator to operate during a power outage, and diesel generators were recently added to back up the new pumps. The pump stations in LID 15 are exercised monthly and are operated when the Brazos River reaches flood stages that automatically close the flood gates in the levee.  If it rains in LID 15 while the flood gates are closed, the pump stations are activated to remove runoff from inside the levee.

Steep Bank Creek Pump Station

Steep Bank Creek Pump Station

 

Steep Bank Creek Ribbon CuttingPictured from left to right: Girish Misra (LID 15), Glen Gill (LID 15), Jeff Anderson (LID 15), Fort Bend County Judge KP George, Rohit Sankholkar (LID 15), Kalapi Sheth (LID 19), Fort Bend County Pct 3 Commissioner Andy Meyers, Timothy Benz (LID 19), Sreekanth Pannala (LID 19), Radhika Iyer (LID 19), and Jay Parekh (LID 19)

Steep Bank Creek Ribbon Cutting
Pictured from left to right: Girish Misra (LID 15), Glen Gill (LID 15), Jeff Anderson (LID 15), Fort Bend County Judge KP George, Rohit Sankholkar (LID 15), Kalapi Sheth (LID 19), Fort Bend County Pct 3 Commissioner Andy Meyers, Timothy Benz (LID 19), Sreekanth Pannala (LID 19), Radhika Iyer (LID 19), and Jay Parekh (LID 19)