Community

On October 31, 2018, MUD 500 received a report of a sighting of an approximately 4’ alligator in the southern portion of MUD 500’s lakes, off of Hamilton Hills Drive near the boat docks. On November 1, 2018, MUD 500 received an additional report of a sighting of an alligator in the same portion of MUD 500’s lakes, near the Hamilton Hills Drive bridge. MUD 500 immediately notified its wildlife management contractor of the sightings and directed the trapper to actively monitor for an alligator and, if one is located, to immediately remove it upon obtaining the required nuisance permit from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.

MUD 500 continues to request that residents report any sightings of alligators to its operator, Environmental Development Partners, at (832) 467-1599. MUD 500 encourages your district to share this information with your residents. Please visit MUD 500’s website, at http://www.hcmud500.org, for additional information.

On October 10, 2018, MUD 500 received a report of a sighting of an approximately 3’ to 4’ alligator at approximately 10:00 p.m. on October 9, 2018, in the southwestern portion of MUD 500’s lakes, south of Tuckerton Road and west of Greenhouse Road, near the Cypress Cove subdivision. MUD 500 immediately notified its wildlife management contractor of the sighting and directed the trapper to actively monitor for an alligator and, if one is located, to immediately remove it upon obtaining the required nuisance permit from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.

MUD 500 continues to request that residents report any sightings of alligators to its operator, Environmental Development Partners, at (832) 467-1599. MUD 500 encourages your district to share this information with your residents. Please visit MUD 500’s website, at http://www.hcmud500.org, for additional information.

On August 28, 2018, MUD 500 received a report of a sighting of an approximately 3’ to 4’ alligator on the morning of August 26, 2018, underneath the Tuckerton Bridge, west of the intersection of Tuckerton Road and Towne Lake Parkway. MUD 500 immediately notified its wildlife management contractor of the sighting and directed the trapper to actively monitor for an alligator and, if one is located, to immediately remove it upon obtaining the required nuisance permit from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department.

MUD 500 continues to request that residents report any sightings of alligators to its operator, Environmental Development Partners, at (832) 467-1599. MUD 500 encourages your district to share this information with your residents.

On July 6, 2018, MUD 500 received a report of a sighting of an approximately 5’ – 7’ alligator in the central portion of MUD 500’s lakes, south of the intersection of Towne Lake Parkway and Greenhouse Road, and east of Puckett Island. MUD 500 immediately notified its wildlife management contractor to attempt to locate the alligator and, if located, to remove the alligator upon obtaining the required nuisance permit. After an additional report of a sighting the next day, MUD 500 obtained a nuisance permit from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, and its contractor set a trap to attempt to catch and remove the alligator. Unfortunately, an unknown individual cut the line to the trap and disposed of the contractor’s equipment in the lake. The contractor did not locate an alligator, and the nuisance permit expired.

On August 1, 2018, MUD 500 received a new report of a sighting of an approximately 5’ alligator on the shore line of the southeastern portion of MUD 500’s lakes, southeast of the intersection of Tuckerton Road and Hamilton Hills Drive, and near Sabinal River Court. MUD 500 immediately obtained a nuisance permit from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and notified its trapper to attempt to locate and, if located, to remove the alligator. As directed by MUD 500, the contractor also has continued weekly monitoring of the lakes to search for any evidence of additional alligators and to take steps to remove them if any are found.

MUD 500 respectfully requests that residents of and visitors to Towne Lake refrain from interfering with its wildlife management contractor and/or any of the contractor’s lines, traps, or other equipment left in or near MUD 500’s lakes. Please be advised that tampering with alligator traps or otherwise interfering with the activities of MUD 500’s wildlife management contractor could potentially subject you to fines and/or criminal penalties.

MUD 500 also continues to request that residents report any sightings of alligators to its operator, Environmental Development Partners, at (832) 467-1599. MUD 500 encourages your district to share this information with your residents.

At its meeting on July 11^th, the Harris County MUD No. 501 Board of Directors determined to change its regular meeting location and time.  Beginning on August 1, 2018, the Harris County MUD No. 501 Board of Directors will meet in the District at the Lakehouse at Towne Lake, 10000 Towne Lake Parkway, Cypress, Texas 77433.  The meetings will continue to regularly occur on the first Wednesday of the month, but will now begin at 5:30 p.m.  All interested members of the public are welcome to attend.

As MUD 500 previously reported to the Participants, in early July 2017, MUD 500’s wildlife management contractor caught and removed a 5’ 10” male alligator in the southern portion of MUD 500’s lakes. In early October 2017, MUD 500 received a report of a sighting of an additional approximately 3’ alligator near the outfall structure in the southeast portion of MUD 500’s lakes. As reported to the Participants at the time, MUD 500 obtained the required nuisance permit from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and instructed its contractor to attempt to locate and, if located, to remove the alligator. Despite repeated attempts, the contractor did not locate an alligator, and the nuisance permit expired. As directed by MUD 500, the contractor has continued weekly monitoring of the lakes to search for any evidence of additional alligators and to take steps to remove them if any are found.

On November 16, 2017, MUD 500 received a report of a sighting of two or three approximately 2’ alligators in the southwestern portion of MUD 500’s lakes, south of Tuckerton Road and west of Greenhouse Road. MUD 500 immediately notified its contractor to attempt to locate the alligators and, if located, to remove the alligators upon obtaining the required nuisance permit. Despite repeated attempts, the contractor did not locate an alligator.

On July 6, 2018, MUD 500 received a new report of a sighting of an approximately 5’ – 7’ alligator in the central portion of MUD 500’s lakes, south of the intersection of Towne Lake Parkway and Greenhouse Road, and east of Puckett Island. MUD 500 immediately notified its contractor to attempt to locate the alligator and, if located, to remove the alligator upon obtaining the required nuisance permit.

MUD 500 additionally has worked with the Towne Lake Community Association for the Association to install signage notifying residents and visitors of wildlife that may be located within the lakes, including alligators.

MUD 500 continues to request that residents report any sightings of alligators to its operator, Environmental Development Partners, at (832) 467-1599. MUD 500 also encourages your district to share this information with your residents.

From Ready.gov

• Know what to do before, during, and after a hurricane.
• Prepare before hurricane season starts. Pacific hurricane season starts May 15 and Atlantic hurricane season starts June 1.
• Create an emergency communication plan with your family before a hurricane.
• Have emergency supplies in place at home, at work, and in the car.
• Check your insurance coverage, damages caused by flooding are not covered under normal homeowner’s insurance policies.
• Know your local community’s evacuation plan and evacuation routes and how to receive alerts.
• Listen to local officials.

As MUD 500 previously reported to the Participants, in early July 2017, MUD 500’s wildlife management contractor caught and removed a 5’ 10” male alligator in the southern portion of MUD 500’s lakes. In early October, MUD 500 received a report of a sighting of an additional approximately 3’ alligator near the outfall structure in the southeast portion of MUD 500’s lakes. As reported to the Participants at the time, MUD 500 obtained the required nuisance permit from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and instructed its contractor to attempt to locate and, if located, to remove the alligator. Despite repeated attempts, the contractor did not locate an alligator, and the nuisance permit expired. As directed by MUD 500, the contractor has continued weekly monitoring of the lakes to search for any evidence of additional alligators and to take steps to remove them if any are found.

On November 16, 2017, MUD 500 received a new report of a sighting of two or three approximately 2’ alligators in the southwestern portion of MUD 500’s lakes, south of Tuckerton Road and west of Greenhouse Road. MUD 500 immediately notified its contractor to attempt to locate the alligators and, if located, to remove the alligators upon obtaining the required nuisance permit.

MUD 500 additionally has been coordinating with the Towne Lake Community Association regarding the installation of signage notifying residents and visitors of wildlife that may be located within the lakes, including alligators. The Towne Lake Community Association has notified MUD 500 that they are working on a plan for the design and location of the signs, and that they plan to install the signs within 90 days.

MUD 500 continues to request that residents report any sightings of alligators to its operator, Environmental Development Partners, at (832) 467-1599. MUD 500 also encourages your district to share this information with your residents.

The National Weather Service has issued a tropical storm warning for Harris County and the surrounding counties in the Houston metropolitan area, as tropical storm Harvey continues to strengthen and approach the Texas coast. Over the next several days and throughout the weekend, the Houston metropolitan area is expected to receive significant amounts of rainfall, which may result in widespread flooding. There also is a risk of significant wind and other damage from the storm.

The District’s operator, Environmental Development Partners (EDP), is implementing its emergency preparedness procedures, as necessary, and will continue to monitor the progress of the storm and adjust its procedures accordingly. Please contact EDP at (832) 467-1599 at any time to report issues with District facilities.

Additional information and updates about the storm are available through the following:

• Harris County Joint Information Center
• National Weather Service
• National Hurricane Center
• Harris County Flood Control District Flood Warning System

The District encourages you to review your emergency preparedness plan and to continue to frequently monitor information about the storm as it develops.

In recent months, MUD 500 received reports of beavers and Egyptian geese in its lakes and contracted with a wildlife pest professional to remove them. In April 2017, MUD 500 received a report that an alligator was sighted in Towne Lake. MUD 500 obtained a nuisance control permit from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (required by State law to remove an alligator) and requested that its contractor search for and remove any alligator that might be present in its lakes.

Early last week, MUD 500’s contractor caught and removed a 5’ 10” male alligator in the southern portion of MUD 500’s lakes. The contractor believes that the alligator likely entered the lakes during a large rain event when Cypress Creek overflowed into the lakes. The contractor does not believe there are any additional alligators in the lakes, but the Houston area is a natural habitat for various wildlife, including alligators. MUD 500’s contractor will continue to monitor the lakes for any evidence of additional alligators and take steps to remove them if any are found.

MUD 500 requests that residents report any sightings of alligators to its operator, Environmental Development Partners, at (832) 467-1599. MUD 500 encourages your district to share this information with your residents.

Sincerely,
Marilyn Roberts
President, MUD 500

Please click here for the complete communication from Harris County Municipal Utility District No. 500.