Author: FBLID 19

As we all know, the Flat Bank Channel (which you cross over a bridge when you drive from LJ Parkway to Sienna) has suffered many areas of erosion over the past few years. So far these do not pose any imminent danger to our levee system. However, these erosion locations need to be repaired, for the safety of the levee system. Although the Channel is owned and maintained by Fort Bend County Drainage District (FBCDD), LID 19’s Board of Directors has been paying close attention to this issue.

According to FBCDD, the delays in the repair work have largely been attributable to federal funding and approvals fort the project.  Below is a rough timeline of events, as reported by FBCDD:

A large reason for the delay is due to the initial recommendation for the use of Scourlok gabion baskets by FEMA. Engineers worked with the Scourlok manufacturer and a soils engineer to determine that FEMA’s initial design to use Scourlok was found to be overly expensive due to the amount of excavation and back fill required. Additionally, the lower limits of excavation could have jeopardized the integrity of the levee. A geologic investigation and soils analysis determined that a revised design to eliminate the Scourlok baskets, flatten the side slopes, decrease the excavation, and use rock riprap to stabilize the toe.

If you have any questions or concerns about the Flat Bank Channel project, please contact the FBCDD or submit an inquiry on LID 19’s website.

As you are likely aware, there is a migration of feral hogs that periodically find themselves in the confines of LID 19. LID 19’s Board has received a few requests from residents regarding the hogs and what can be done about them. It is important to note that the LID’s primary responsibility is to protect the levees. In some parts of our LID and throughout the county, LIDs have erected hog fencing to prevent the animals from gaining access to levees where they can cause damage and threaten the integrity of a levee. As a side benefit, the barriers have been successful in limiting their access to homes.

The hog fencing can help, but it is an open system. Hogs, if desired, can travel to the LID 19 interior simply through roads. This means that there is no foolproof barrier method. To help prevent their interest in your property, please consider the following:

1. Turn back irrigation settings at your home so the grounds are not so soft and easy to root through.
2. Treat your yard for grubs, worms, insects and reptiles quarterly to eliminate the hog’s food sources – this is what the LID 19 does to keep the hogs from digging into the levees.
3. Remove all acorns from your lawn if you have oak trees throughout your property.
4. Make sure you have no standing water in your yard that hogs will use as a drinking or bathing source.
5. Hogs do not like the light at night. Something as simple as solar stake lights in the yard have proven to deter hogs from locations. Predator guards placed at hog’s eye level might be effective
6. Do not leave any food outside. This is for human or pet foods.
7. Ensure that your trash is well secured and not accessible.

In addition to contacting the HOA, it is also advisable that you write to your county and state representatives. The feral hog problem is not contained just in LID 19, and a regional effort is needed. They need to hear from you to know it is an issue of note.

As a reminder, 2021 tax bills for LID 19 were included in Fort Bend County’s consolidated tax bills. No separate tax bill was issued for LID 19.

Taxes for the 2021 calendar year were due on January 31, 2021. If you need a copy of your 2021 tax statement or need to pay taxes online, please visit: https://actweb.acttax.com/act_webdev/fbc/index.jsp