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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

On May 16, 2022, the LID 15 Strategic Plan was adopted by the District’s Board of Directors. The planning process began at a special workshop in January, and the Board continued to evaluate options and prioritize actions over the next four months. The District plans to implement the goals listed below over the next three years. The LID 15 Board welcomes input from the community about the vision outlined below. Residents are encouraged to visit https://www.fblid15.com/contact-us/ and provide feedback.

Fort Bend County Levee Improvement District No. 15

Strategic Plan
Adopted May 16, 2022

Our Mission, is a COMMITMENT to provide residents and commercial property owners with the HIGHEST quality flood plain reclamation, flood prevention, and stormwater drainage improvements in the most cost-effective manner.

Pillars of Success

Quality Services
Transcending Standards
Operational Efficiency

1. Quality Services: The District commits to providing its residents and commercial property owners with the highest quality of services authorized within our mission.
   1. The District will update its levee and drainage facilities inventory, and define and implement maintenance service levels for each.
   2. The District will assess its non-flood prevention assets (including certain parks, roads and wetlands), and define and implement maintenance schedules for each.
   3. The District will inventory all software and data sources used by consultants and research alternatives that could be owned by the District.
   4. The District will analyze its current management and staffing model using outsourced consultants and research the direct hiring of staff, including evaluating the related costs, benefits, and risks.
2. Transcending Standards: The District will strive to meet or exceed the laws and regulatory requirements applicable to the flood-protection services provided by FBCLID 15.
   1. The District will continually review current local, state, and federal laws and regulatory requirements applicable to the flood-protection services provided by FBCLID 15. A capital improvement program will be prepared for any flood control assets that do not meet the current requirements. Alternatives will be identified for assets that do not exceed the latest standards.
   2. The District will review current stakeholder communications and develop a plan to improve public information regarding flood risks and protection.
   3. The District will foster relationships with local, state and federal agencies.
   4. The District will adopt an encroachment policy to preserve easement access.
3. Operational Efficiency: The District will endeavor to provide world-class services in the most cost-effective manner.
   1. The District will perform budget and operations benchmarking at the state and national level.
   2. The District will develop an enhanced Procurement Policy.
   3. The District will prepare a long-term financial plan that includes projections for future tax rates and reserve funds.

The primary function of LID 15 is to prevent Brazos River flooding, and Lake Sommerville is the closest flood control reservoir in the watershed. Lake Sommerville is approximately 100 miles upstream of LID 15 and is located about 10 miles north of Brenham, Texas. On April 22, Fort Bend County hosted a tour of the Lake Sommerville dam and spillways with the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). USACE is considered a world-wide leader in dam and levee safety, so the tour was attended by numerous Levee Improvement District (LID) officials from Fort Bend County, including members of the LID 15 Board of Directors.

The Lake Somerville dam (pictured below) can hold back more than 507,500 acre-feet (165 billion gallons) of water. This incredible volume of water has a major impact on Brazos River flood conditions downstream in LID 15. Therefore, the operations and maintenance of Lake Somerville directly impacts emergency responses across Fort Bend County. The tour allowed LID representatives to get an up-close view and gain first-hand experience with reservoir operations on the Brazos River. The event was also a networking opportunity to meet with other professionals that manage flood risks in southeast Texas.