Waterside Village Park Landscape Project

As Part of the District’s Park Plan, Fort Bend Municipal Utility District No. 118 (MUD 118) has begun implementing additional improvements to the parks, open spaces, and trails within MUD 118 common areas. Improvements are scheduled to begin at Waterside Village Park on October 12, 2021. For the safety of the community, portions of Waterside Village Park will be closed temporarily during the week of October 11, 2021 through October 18, 2021, while construction is underway. Barski Park and areas along the jogging trail and Figure Four Lake will remain open for use during this time. Thank you for your patience during this process.

For questions and additional information please contact MUD 118 through the District website’s contact page at www.FBMUD118.com/contact/ or by telephone to the District’s Park Facility Manager at (832) 956-0868.

 

The American Alligator

Fort Bend MUD 118 has recently received reports of the presence of an alligator in Figure Four Lake. Fort Bend MUD 118 is monitoring the situation and following the guidance and regulations set by the Texas Parks Wildlife Department. We ask residents to adhere to Fort Bend MUD 118 park rules, State and local regulations and the guidance outlined below while visiting District Parks.

The American Alligator

The American alligator is a semi-aquatic, armored reptile that is almost black in color.  Adult alligators will range from 6 – 14 ft. in body length.  They have prominent eyes and nostrils with coarse scales over their entire body.  The alligator has a large, long head and often floats or swims with only its eyes and nostrils exposed.  Alligators are carnivorous and feed on fish, turtles, snakes, small mammals, waterfowl, and other alligators.  Alligators are surprisingly quick on land and can run up to 35 miles per hours for short distances.  Alligators in Texas are mostly inactive from mid-October until early March when they brumate.  Springtime is when alligators are most active, according to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.  Courtship and mating begin in late spring and continues through early summer. April through July are peak months for nuisance gator calls.

If You See An Alligator

Many Texans will live in close proximity to these native reptiles with no confrontations, however, there are occasions when certain alligators become a “nuisance” and must be handled by the proper authorities. The current legal definition of a nuisance alligator is “an alligator that is depredating (killing livestock or pets) or a threat to human health and safety.”   Texas Parks and Wildlife is the only authority that can deem an alligator a nuisance because of their protected status.

The following are instances in which local authorities should be notified: If you see an alligator in the roadway; if an alligator is repeatedly following boats, canoes or other watercrafts, and/or maintains a close distance without submersing; or if you walk near the water and an alligator comes straight toward you, especially if it comes out of the water.

Residents should be watchful of alligators, snakes, and other wildlife along waterways, follow posted signage and share these alligator tips:

  • Leave alligators alone. State law prohibits killing, harassing, or possessing alligators.
  • Never feed or entice alligators, it is dangerous and illegal.
  • Never allow small children to play unsupervised near water.
  • Alligators are most active between dusk and dawn when they are feeding.
  • Don’t allow pets to swim, exercise or drink in or near waters that may contain alligators. Keep your pet on a leash and in control when walking around the water.
  • Don’t swim in areas not designated for swimming.
  • Do enjoy viewing and photographing alligators from a safe distance of at least 30 ft. or more.
  • If you hear an alligator hiss, it is a warning that you are too close.

Remember that alligators are an important part of Texas’s natural history, as well as an integral component of our wetland’s ecosystems. For more information about alligators, including safety tips for living near alligators, research reports and basic natural history, Follow the link below to TPWD Web site:

https://tpwd.texas.gov/huntwild/wild/species/alligator/safety/index.phtml

For questions specific to Fort Bend MUD 118, follow the link below or contact by phone: (832) 956-0868

http://www.fbmud118.com/contact/

Poison Ivy

One of Texas’ most troublesome plants is poison ivy. Although most Texans are familiar with this common plant, countless people experience an uncomfortable introduction to it every year. Unfortunately, the natural landscape along the trail and around Figure Four Lake in Fort Bend MUD No. 118 provides the perfect habitat for this noxious species to thrive. While the District, in cooperation with landscape professionals is working to remove this unpleasant vegetation, residents should exercise caution when venturing into District common areas. All parts of the plant are toxic and capable of causing skin irritation. For sensitive individuals encounters such as running over leaves with the lawnmower or being touched by pets who may have run through the plants, are enough to cause a reaction.

Poison ivy can be found as a low-growing shrub, can grow as a trailing vine along the ground, or can occur as a vine that climbs the trunks of trees. According to the Texas A&M AgriLife Extension service, poison ivy may differ in appearance according to geographical region. Along lake and riverbanks in Central and East Texas the plant may grow to become a large-trunked vine capable of climbing to the top of the average tree. The leaves are compound, with three leaflets that occur alternately along the stem. The leaflets may be smooth or slightly hairy, with edges being lobed, toothed, or smooth. Leaves can occur in a variety of colors on the same plant, but leaflets typically have a greenish-red cast when they first emerge in the spring, then turn dark green throughout the summer, and eventually turn red, orange, or yellow in the fall.

If you think you have had an encounter with poison ivy, wash your skin with soap and cool water as soon as possible after contact. Alcohol can also be used to remove the irritating plant oils. The sooner you cleanse the skin, the greater the chance that you can remove the plant oil or help prevent further spread.

For questions or concerns about the presence and control of poison ivy in District common areas, please contact the District’s Parks Manager through the Fort Bend MUD No. 118 website contact page https://www.fbmud118.com/contact/ or by phone at 832-956-0868.

Tree Preservation and Removal Project

The Peninsula located along Figure Four Lake and within Fort Bend MUD No. 118 (MUD 118) common area is home to various species of native trees. This wooded reserve provides shade for park goers and refuge for the park’s wild inhabitants. While MUD 118 strives to preserve this natural area, there are times when intervention is needed to maintain the health of trees and safety of the public in a park setting. This includes tree pruning to maintain a safe canopy height, removal of dead or hazardous limbs and occasionally removal of trees.

In March of 2021, an evaluation was performed by a Certified Arborist assessing trees in MUD 118 park spaces. While the Arborist’s assessment included recommendations for actions that will reduce stresses, and boost growth through selective pruning and deep root fertilization, it was concluded that one Live Oak tree requires removal. The tree that is planned to be removed was found to have a non-treatable form of fungal disease that commonly attacks trees suffering from bark damage or other stresses that increase a tree’s susceptibility to pests and disease. While the tree is still alive and has continued to perform its seasonal routines, the Arborist identified signs of decline including fungal growth and die back of young branches in the canopy, and decay of the trunk and main boughs of the tree.

The recommendation for removal was based on a collection of factors including the severity of existing decay, lack of signs of healing or new growth, and proximity to and potential of spreading the disease to remaining and otherwise healthy Live Oaks. Many common tree fungi spread through the air or are carried by pests from one tree to another. As this Live Oak declines, the likelihood that the disease will spread to other nearby trees increases. According to the Arborist’s report, because this disease cannot be treated, this tree will continue to decline until mortality. Unfortunately, there is no treatment for the fungal disease and removal is the best method available to preserve nearby trees and prevent future tree mortality.

The actions outlined by the Arborist and approved by MUD 118 include the removal of the detrimentally unhealthy Live Oak and implementation of preservation techniques for other trees in the area. In addition to the on-going care and maintenance of existing trees, MUD 118 is planning enhancements to District parks that will include the reforestation of areas that have experienced tree loss due to selective removal of hazardous trees, construction, and natural mortality. The project is planned to begin in 2021 and will incorporate various landscape and park improvements as well as the planting of more than one hundred trees of varying species throughout District green spaces.

For questions and additional information please contact MUD 118 through the District website’s contact page: https://www.fbmud118.com/contact/

Or by telephone to the District’s Park Facility Manager: (832) 956-0868