Author: FBMUD 118

The Waterside Estates HOA and Fort Bend County MUD 118, 4th of July firework display will take place again this year. The fireworks will be shot from the end of the peninsula over Waterside Estates Lake at approximately 9 PM. The District is asking residents attending District park areas around the lake to please be respectful to District property and adjacent property owners and to continue to adhere to all guidelines and recommendations from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and your local public health officials to maximize the safety and health of all Fort Bend MUD #118 residents. The District is monitoring state and local guidance and ordinances related to COVID-19 and the following guidelines will be updated as needed. Visitors to District parks should adhere to the following guidelines to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

• Follow the CDC’s guidance on personal hygiene prior to heading to parks – wash hands, carry hand sanitizer, do not use parks or trails and facilities if you have symptoms, cover your mouth and nose when coughing or sneezing, etc.
• Individuals should maintain 6 feet of separation from others outside the individual’s group and from homeowner fences. A group is defined as no more than 10 persons including the members of the household and those persons who traveled together to the event.
• All District playground equipment, picnic tables and other commonly touched surfaces are not disinfected; use is at your own risk.
• Warn other park users of your presence and as you pass to allow proper distance, and step off trails and sidewalks to allow others to pass, keeping minimum recommended distances at all times. Signal your presence with your voice, bell or horn.
• Bring water or drinks — public drinking fountains may be disabled and should not be used, even if operable.
• Consistent with the actions taken by many individuals across the state, consider wearing cloth face coverings (over the nose and mouth) at the outdoor event when within 6 feet of another person who is not a member of the individual’s group.

While District Parks remain open, we ask that all residents visiting these public spaces to exercise good hygiene and best practices to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and reduce ways the virus is transmitted.

May 20, 2020

An alligator was spotted recently in Figure Four Lake within Fort Bend MUD 118. Upon observation, the alligator has not exhibited behavior to qualify as a nuisance as defined by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department at this time. Fort Bend MUD 118 continues to monitor the situation and follow 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 continue 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

https://www.fbmud118.com/contact/