Wetland Maintenance Update

The development of Riverstone required a permit from the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). As part of the USACE permit, the District is required to construct and maintain 25 acres of wetlands. To fulfill this requirement wetland beds were constructed in lakes and parks throughout Riverstone, and an example is pictured below. These beds were purposefully created to help improve water quality in the community’s drainage system.

In late March and April, LID 15 will perform maintenance to expand and improve wetlands throughout the Cypress Bend greenbelt that follows the Club at Riverstone Trail. The existing wetlands are shown in blue on the map below. The contractor will be working in the red areas on the map to expand and deepen the footprint of the wetland beds. To fill these areas, desirable wetland species will be transplanted from other areas of the park and purchased from local nurseries. LID 15 has coordinated this wetland maintenance project with Riverstone HOA, and residents can contact LID 15 directly with any questions or concerns.

Lake Riverstone is the largest lake in the community and contains several wetlands beds. LID 15 recently expanded the wetlands in Lake Riverstone near Wetlands Park. Now that transplanting is complete, residents may notice that Lake Riverstone is not as blue as it normally appears. The wetland improvements are being coordinated with Riverstone HOA and LID 15 requested no additional dye be added to color Lake Riverstone. The lack of lake dye will help ensure the new wetland plants receive enough sunlight while they get established this spring. The dying of Lake Riverstone is currently scheduled to resume in June.

Riverstone Wetland Beds

Riverstone Wetland Beds

Cypress Bend Wetland Maintenance

Cypress Bend Wetland Maintenance

Emergency Operations Update – Friday, January 26, 2024

The Brazos River is currently reaching its crest near 44 feet and water levels will begin to decrease on Saturday, January 27. LID 15 received additional rainfall on Friday, but the forecast will dry out over the weekend. The LID 15 pump stations were tested today, and the drainage system is operating as designed. The pump station operators are also on stand-by if the forecast changes. The latest information from the National Weather Service is included below.

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

National Weather Service

Brazos River at Richmond

 

Emergency Operations Update

LID 15 has received approximately 4 inches of rain this week. Rainfall will continue through Wednesday, January 24, ending on Thursday, January 25. Over the weekend, the Brazos River is forecasted to crest at 40.9 feet. Based on this Brazos River water level, the LID 15 drainage system will continue to operate normally under gravity flow and the pumps will not be needed. However, the LID 15 pump stations and portable pumps have been tested, and operators are on stand-by if the forecast changes. The latest forecast and information from the National Weather Service is included below.

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

National Weather Service

Brazos River at Richmond