Projects

With the current Stay at Home order in place, residents have been actively walking through our community. While that is your choice, the LID 15 and LID 19 board of directors wanted to remind everyone that walking on the levees is not permitted. Residents can face criminal penalties.

Over the past few weeks, operators have seen more than just walkers as motorcycle and four-wheeler activity has been noted. These activities are not permitted and are inherently dangerous to the rider and the structural integrity of the levee.

Please do not go on the levee. Any access of the levee to residents is forbidden and trespassers can also be subject to criminal penalties.

The care and maintenance of the entire levee system is an ongoing process and the priority for your LID 15 board of directors. The directors oversee the management of many areas of maintenance through the work of consultants hired to keep the LID in top operational condition.

Maintenance of the levee is handled daily and includes debris removal from the detention areas, waterways, and along the levee. The upkeep of our wetland areas is dictated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineer guidelines and permit regulations. These guidelines include reducing the number of infectious weeds and rodents and is another example of continued maintenance. Plantings to maintain the required natural vegetation, routine mowing, fertilization for healthy vegetation, pruning, and removal of tree limbs or fallen trees are all essential responsibilities. These efforts keep the soil healthy and assist adequate absorption and flow of water in the drainage system.

The structure of the levee is also regularly inspected along with drainage and detention functions. Upkeep of equipment, such as pumps, generators, and levee infrastructure, is also critical. Pests such as feral hogs cause destruction in the district, and regular inspections and repair of fencing along the district are necessary.

Beyond the maintenance and care for land and facilities, the district directors and engineers participate in continuous planning efforts to evaluate the need for more equipment and design, such as the current planning of the expansion of Steep bank Creek pump systems, a joint effort with LID 19.

While most of the needs for the levee systems are managed on a routine level, additional events and issues are addressed as they occur. As seen in previous posts, care for the levees and any risk to the performance of the systems is an ongoing effort that requires constant vigilance for the levees to perform as intended when the need arises. For more information about LID 15 residents are encouraged to visit www.fblid15.com.

It may not be something you’ve given much thought to – seeing or hearing an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) bouncing freely along the levee. Not only is it against the law, but riding an ATV or another motor vehicle on the levee has consequences that can lead to flooding.

ATVs cause the stripping away of thick grass, which protects the levee from erosion. The damage from the vehicles also causes deep ruts and grooves in the soil where muddy ditches form. These trenches can affect the ability of the levee to keep water out of the district. The impact of this destruction can be felt in other ways, too, when the levees are inspected. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) routinely inspects the district’s pump stations, levee walls, and enclosure structures. This inspection information contributes to risk assessments and supports levee accreditation decisions for the National Flood Insurance Program administered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

The risk of flooding into streets and homes must be fought on many fronts. Residents are asked to not use ATVs or other motor vehicles on or around the levee area. Anyone who witnesses this activity is encouraged to notify the Riverstone Home Owners office (281-778-2222), the Fort Bend Precinct 4 Constables office (281-242-4014) or the Fort Bend Sherriff’s Office (281-341-4665).