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This joint interim committee met to discuss the feasibility and desirability of creating and maintaining a costal barrier system.
 
James Yarbrough, Mayor, Galveston, Texas

  • Welcomes the committee to Galveston.
  • Reminds the committee there may not be a perfect solution but a workable solution is needed.

 
Admiral Robert Smith III, Vice President, Texas A&M University

  • Reviews the damage from hurricane Ike
  • Stresses the need to protect this area as these water way processes 25% of fuel in the nation and is essential to trade.

 
Colonel Richard Pannell, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

  • Hurricane Ike (2008) cost the region $29 billion and claimed 21 lives it missed the heart of the region if it had hit a bit west it would have cost $80-100 billion.
  • Rapid population growth and extreme climate variability is putting pressure on water resources.
  • U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has been working with other committees to position the region for economic growth and promote ecologic health.
  • Since Ike the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has created 7 Hurricane flood protection systems in costal Texas.
  • Currently The Corps is working on two major studies:
    • Sabine Pass and Galveston Bay Feasibility Study – Texas General Land Office sponsored this study and it received exemption from the Corps Plan of Moderation to take longer than 3 years. It is focused on improvements to the Freeport and Port Arthur Levees and building a new levee in Orange County. The study is scheduled to be completed in 2017 and will then be eligible for congressional authorization.
    • Costal Texas Protection and Restoration Study– This study focuses on ecosystem restoration as Texas is one of the few states without a costal plan. The enormous scope and scale granted it a time exemption. The study will take 5.5 years and cost nearly $20 million. It will provide structural and non- structural recommendations. They study is broken into four separate regions. The next milestone is alternatives milestone and tentatively selecting a plan in 2018 to define a feasibility design that will be put in the report. The study was fully funded in 2016 and 2017 and have outlined a funding strategy for the budget.
  • Sen. Kolkhorst – Is the G.L.O. spending some State money?
    • Yes it is a 50/50 cost share.
  • Rep. Lucio- Does the study cover anything in regards to protect beaches from erosion?
    • That is included in this study. Some of the alternatives we looked at when we did public meetings in South Padre were looking at alternatives to continue beach nourishment in South Padre Island.
  • Rep. Lucio- Does that help with flood storm surge issues?
    • They are related and it increases overall resiliency of the shore line.
  • Rep. Lucio- What does a costal barrier operation system infrastructure look like?
    • That is a complicated question.  Some of the structural methods are the costal barrier. The sea wall is an example of a costal barrier. The speed center looks at something referred to as the Ike Dike or other levee systems. We’re looking at all those alternatives to see what is economically feasible and engineering feasible and which ones will meet environmental criteria. Will ultimately select ones that have federal interest in regards to a cost benefit.  
  • Rep. Thompson-Will this address some of the issues of The Biggert-Waters Act (112th)?
    • Unsure of the specifics of the act but the authority they are operating under is to reducing risk associated Hurricanes and if that is part of the Act then yes.
  • Rep. Thompson-My understanding is the act was based on Army Corps of Engineers research. Would they not look at that as they’re proceeding along with the study?
    • I would need to know geographic specifics of the area.
  • Rep. Thompson- Nassau Bay for example it would have been in a situation where if those houses were damaged they would not be in a situation to rebuild if the house was 50% or more damaged. The only thing that saved us was Sandy hit the east coast and Congressional members realized it would impact their communities. As you move forward – request to look at study recommendations and impact to Biggert-Waters Act.
  • Rep. Faircloth- Are both of the studies going to incorporate a costal spine system?
    • Right now we don’t know if the coast of Texas will have a costal spine. The Sabine Pass and Galveston Bay Study has three parts (1) improving the costal systems at Free Port, (2) improving the costal system at Post Arthur and  (3) creating a new levee system in Orange County.
  • Rep. Faircloth- Did you say 5.5 years?
    • For the costal Texas study yes, 5.5 years which started six months ago and cost nearly $20 million.
  • Rep. Faircloth- If another storm hits the coast will it impact the study?
    • It will depend on how far into the study we are.
  • Rep. Kolkhorst- In your phase of public meetings how far are you in each region?
    • We’ve had a public meeting in each region, we’ve laid out alternatives based on our reconnaissance and we’re looking forward to our alternatives milestone in June.
  • Rep. Kolkhorst- What does alternatives milestone mean?
    • That’s where we’ll be looking at all the options and be picking ones to move forward. It is a large scale study.
  • Rep. Kolkhorst -So it’s narrowing everything down?
    • It’s narrowing things down and allocating them to the state or local level and seeing what we can move forward with. Final suite of alternatives that they will be doing an analysist on.  
  • Sen. Taylor- So when you’re trying to figure out what is federal and whit is state you’re trying to figure out the federal interest?
    • Yes. Those criteria are laid out in the National Economic Development Plan.
  • Sen. Taylor- How did they do it in New Orleans?
    • They didn’t do environmental studies. It was a different situation. This is a proactive approach, laying out a plan prior to an incident occurring.
  • Sen. Taylor- Recaps the history on New Orleans and said he recalls there was limited local share and the timing was much quicker. His goal is to take the final plan for Texas and go to the federal government and ask for a direct appropriation. He wants to be pro-active and believes normal process is taking longer than he would like to take.
  • Rep. Kolkhorst -If we have a plan, then Congress will say rather than waiting for a disaster we can put the plan in place. Will we have some definitive answers in a year or two?
    • The definitive answer would be at the tentatively selected plan milestone in 2018.
  • Rep. Deshotel –How does the Houston Ship Channel plan integrate into either study that is being conducted?
    • There are two projects from Core of Engineer: the Sabine Pass to Galveston bay project, which is entering its final phase. The information from that will be captured in the overall costal Texas plan which incorporates reviewing the costal spine.
  • Rep. Deshotel -I don’t see the Houston Ship Channel separated or identified in the Costal Texas study. The Sabine pass project is very important but I don’t see how it connects to the rest of this meeting – plan to protect ship channel in Houston.
    • The plan is laid out over four regions, he further explains the map
  • Rep. Lucio- I just want to make sure I understand the appropriations process. So you have not fully funded the plan?
    • We get appropriations by year. We have funding for 2016 and are in the President’s budget for 2017 and in the process of building the 2018 budget.
  • Rep. Lucio- So if Congress decides this is no longer a priority the study loses funding?
    • Since it’s ongoing, it would have a higher priority in funding.
  • Rep. Lucio- You said this is a 50/50 split with the G.L.O and the Army Corps?
    • Correct.
  • Rep. Lucio- Do you know if the G.L.O’s portion is fully funded?
    • They will also go to the legislature, we have to have the cost share at the same time.
  • Sen. Birdwell- Is the Sabine Pass to Galveston Bay study congruent with region one of your Costal Texas Protection and Restoration study?
    • Geographically, it is congruent.
  • Sen. Birdwell – the Sabine Pass to Galveston bay is in its 3rd year of the 5.5 year life cycle, correct?
    • No. It is in its 4th year.
  • Sen. Birdwell – but the Costal Protection and Restoration study is at the six month mark?
    • Correct.
  • Sen. Birdwell – So any action by the Federal government on the Sabine Pass to Galveston Bay study would be subordinate to the larger Coastal Protection and Restoration study? Meaning when we reach 5.5 year in the Sabine Pass study will it be set in advance waiting for the larger study?
    • No. It is on its own timeframe.
  • Sen. Birdwell – So when you do the entire costal study there may be other projects in region one  that are part of the larger Coastal study but the three parts of the Sabine Pass to Galveston Bay study would be on their own time line?
    • Correct.
  • Sen. Garcia – Won’t both studies be competing in terms of funding from Congress?
    • I don’t think so because the first one will be competing as early as 2018.
  • Sen. Garcia- But it seems to me it’s competing with the other one – it seems we should just have one effort and include the Sabine Pass study within the Costal study.
    • In terms of the outcomes for the Sabine pass it will be included in the larger study.
  • Sen. Garcia- Then why do we need two?
    • They were authorized separately.
  • Sen. Garcia- Congress on its own decided to authorize a study on Sabine pass? Who requested it?
    • Stakeholders in the region.
  • Sen. Garcia- We may end up with two studies and Congress will think we do not have a comprehensive plan for the area.
    • We have some other folks who can speak more clearly to that coming up.
  • Rep. Deshotel- We have a study due in 2017 that includes the Houston Ship Chanel.
    • Sir, that is not included in that study. It is the same geographic footprint but is a different study.
  • Rep. Deshotel -Okay, since we have one due in 2017 which includes the three regions, is there any way to roll the work that is being done in Houston Ship channel into that study?
    • We considered it but there was not enough information to keep it on the same timeline.
  • Rep. Deshotel- Is there enough information now?
    • We would not be able to accelerate the information to match the level of information that the Sabine- Galveston study. The Sabine-Galveston is in the final stages of the study.
  • Rep. Deshotel- So we’re going to have to go to Congress three times?
    • We only have two studies going on, the one in 2021 would include the Houston Ship Channel.

 
Hector Rivero, President, Texas Chemical Council

  • Houston Ship channel represents largest petrochemical complex in U.S.
  • Concerned about protecting industries as well as employees and where they live.  
  • Texas Chemical Council firmly supports recommendation to looking to the Federal government for funding and supports coastal protection all the way down the coast.
  • Sen. Taylor – Hurricanes could also impact getting essential products out to the rest of the country.
    • Yes. Our facilities are engineered and hardened but we need to protect our employees.

 
Bob Mitchell, President, Bay Area Houston Economic Partnership

  • Economic development organization of 270 member companies.
  • 1 in 4 residents of Texas live along the gulf coast and notes Houston can be claimed a global leader, etc
  • Since 2008 has been working on storm surge protection from maritime classes to increasing technology. Provides timeline overview of progress.
  • Recaps noting Hurricane Ike was not a direct hit, nothing has been done to address surge problem, other global cities have barrier systems/coastal protection
  • Urges change of focus from recovery to prevention
  • Sen. Garcia – The bigger concern is the lost the life, loss after Rita?
    • Some loss in evacuation. Not a definite number – some missing or not identified.
  • Rep. Thompson- Has there been a report on the potential economic loss from another storm to help those who are not on the coast understand how important this is?
    • The issue has been getting the information, especially from chemical companies. They’re very private so it’s hard to get that information out. We’re working on it.
  • Sen. Taylor – the more areas involved the better chance of getting the plan sold, difficult time to look for funding.
    • There are 4 appropriators from Texas and this is being sold as a priority issue and all the ammunition/details that can be given to Congress will be helpful.

 
Bill Merrell, Texas A&M and Merrell Institute

  • Insurance is a major issue that still needs to be addressed. If on wrong side of dike, insurance will go up as seen in New Orleans.
  • Evacuation from Rita killed 118 people while the storm killed 3. Evacuations are deadly.
  • Coastal protection works for the most vulnerable populations the elderly and poor. Protection helps them not recovery.
  • Product is also impacted – 40% of flights in U.S. stop when the Houston ship channel goes down.

 
Colonel Leonard Waterworth, TAMUG, Houston TX

  • After the recession this region added about 1 million people to make it about 6 million people living in the area.
  • 1,174,000 jobs in the region, the 4th largest city, 7th largest estuary 2nd most productive.
  • Greater risk now than since Ike – on average it is likely we would have a hurricane (cat. 3-5) hit within timeframe of submitting report (2021).
  • Rep. Kolkhorst- How quickly could we act if congress approves our plan?
    • 6 years. Dr. Brodie will talk about a grant to change policy but right now our policy is waiting until there is a crisis for funding.
  • Rep. Kolkhorst- Short of us having another Hurricane what can we do to speed up the process?
    • This is a national interest and believe we should be proactive instead of reactive. In six year change was done in New Orleans by the corps but if Congressional funding is needed every year – does not believe the corps can do the project under the normal corps process. It should be a national priority.
  • Sen. Taylor – in your previous work with the corps have they ever completed a project of this size with their resources?
    • No. There may be a few times they came close. They can execute the mission but need resources.
  • Rep. Kolkhorst – What if Texas said we can issue this money do we need to have to have the permission of the Feds? Discussing doing the actual project, maybe there is a cost share opportunity.
    • Alternative financing is outside of witness’ purview but Texas would still have to comply with Federal regulations, get the permits and complete all the studies.
    • Merrell pointed out all that had been accomplished already with private funding, goal is to leverage monies.
  • Rep. Deshotel- If an event happens next year can we go to the Federal government and tell them we have a plan? How far away are we from having a plan?
    • Merrell – we have a more robust plan than New Orleans had. If an event happened, we could get to work on it right away. The Corps is not reactionary, it is through the legislature (Federal).
  • Rep. Deshotel- Is there anything the State of Texas can do to help?
    • Merrell – we need State money for the Center for Texas Beaches and Shores, it has never been funded by the State.
  • Rep. Deshotel- The worst thing that could happen is if an event occurred and we got Federal money but did not have a plan as to what to do with it. Let’s be prepared for when we can get the federal money.
  • Sen. Kolkhorst- I think there’s a $4 million special item request commitment, report from committee could recommend the funding.  
  • Sen. Taylor- Inquired about Restore Act funding for something like this.  

 
Sam Brody, Director, Texas Beach and Shores

  • Technical debate over costal spine is over and believes it is time to move forward.
  • Ove the past year, Texas Beach and Shores and Rice University have received a federal grant and have federal ear even though they are working locally (flood risk reduction).
  • There are more human casualties from floods in Texas than other two states combined.
  • There is still a lot of work left to do on insurance.
  • Have done a case study with West Galveston Island to test insurance rates with and without a costal spine and that is something they could do for the whole Texas Coast.
  • Texas Beach and Shores cannot keep running studies without support from the state.
  • Sen. Taylor- did you ask us for a direct appropriation last session?
    • Yes.
  • Rep. Deshotel- funding will not happen if the request is not known about and appreciates witnesses bringing the request to their attention.
  • They estimate the losses with and without protection at a localized level and put it on web so anyone can see what is going to happen (Funding for this may last another year).
  • Sen. Taylor- I believe your model and the Army Corps of Engineers’ do not include business disruption.
    • No they do not. Not yet.
  • Rep. Thompson- In regards to private industry getting into flood insurance business, has anyone approached the national insurance companies about funding and grants? This would be an inexpensive way for them to get information quickly. Believes if insurance saw they could make money, they would invest – has the detail been shown to them?
    • Yes. They do not see it as a good investment.
    • Yes. The detail has been shared.
  • Questions include what needs to be done behind the coastal spine and things that still need to be considered.

 
Phil Bedient, Director, SSPEED Center, Rice University

  • Referred back to example of Katrina and how post Katrina impacted community.  
  • Received a $50,000 grant for training but the SSPEED center has been privately funded.

 
Larry Dunbar Project Manager, SSPEED Center

  • SSPEED is made up of several Universities and private sector consulting firms.  Funded by the Houston Endowment to first look at Houston then funding was increased including scope to look regionally.
  • Focused on three goals: there needs to be a regional system that protects the population and industrial complex around the Galveston bay & protect the barrier islands.
  • There needs to be multiple lines of defense.
  • Plan needs to have components that can be built quickly.
  • HGAPS- Houston Galveston Area Protection System. Currently in the third phase which requires coming up with a regional comprehensive plan.
  • Sen. Kolkhorst- When you say coast is that Texas or the entire coast? Is this bay unique to Texas’ coast?
    • Any area with a large bay system is extremely vulnerable. Winds can push water up.
  • Sen Kolkhorst- So this can happen at Matagorda Bay?
    • Any big bay systems that are long enough where wind has room to push water (wind fetch).
  • Sen. Taylor- I know these are projections but did you look back at any storms?
    • Yes. Historic storm evaluation. We ranked them by order of category hurricane and the wind speed.  We started to look at what would happen if we got these kinds of storms.
  • Sen. Kolkhorst- if you look at your slide, the absolute worst is almost in downtown Houston? Are you talking about a 25ft surge almost in downtown Houston?
    • Yes
  • Sen. Kolkhorst- You’re talking major loss of life and highways shut down. Would Carla have done that?
    • Carla had 115mph winds more like Katrina level winds, 125mph.
  • Sen. Kolkhorst- So wouldn’t call Carla as one of these?  
    • Tropical storm Allison that hit Houston in 2001, everyone called that the 10,000 year event. We’ve had in Houston at least three 500 year events in the past 10 years. We can put frequencies on these events but there’s no way to actually predict how often they occur.
  • Issues identified with Ike dike: still residual surge, as coastal barrier is topped over could have residual surge be even greater, and building massive gate system is costly and difficult and could have environmental issues. 
  • Have started looking at what can be done in additional to the coastal spine (putting levee on backside of Galveston Island, elevating roads, gates, etc).
  • Reviews lower bay strategy to provide a full comprehensive plan and notes an environmental study needs to be done to look at impact. Discussion continues on surge in bay for normal tides, rainwater, storm surge, etc.
  • Also reviewed the mid-bay strategy- move the gate into the middle of the bay.
  • Cost to residential area if gates are not built $9 billion. Industrial damages also will be billions of dollars, mostly tank spillage. 70% of these costs are due to shut down costs while it’s cleaned up. Cost to implement strategies $3-8 billion.
  • Requesting permit could be quicker process with federal government, strategies/projects could be implemented in 5-6 years.
  • Rep. Deshotel- How long are we from having a plan for permit?
    • Depends on financing of the project but 1 to 2 years and you would need an entity to present it and maintain it.
  • Rep. Thompson- What are the chances of this being challenged?
    • It is possible but we are coordinating with environmental agencies and working with Jim Blackburn to address those concerns.
  • Sen. Garcia-Where is a similar gate being utilized now (to the slide gate) and is it working?
    • There are no large gates but we had the Dutch look at the proposed gates and they thought for this location this slide gate made most sense. Further discussed various types of gates and what issues they address.
  • Rep. Faircloth- Who authorized the one page directive that authorized the New Orleans construction project? Who establishes the priority list?
    • Department of Defense and Congress played a part in the discussions. 3 paragraphs to get the funding.
  • First step of corps process, part of study is to determine if it is a federal interest, rest of methodology described.
  • In regards to a question on what is needed from the state of Texas to get a similar ¾ page document like New Orleans?
    • It’s going to be the state influencing the Federal government. Getting legislation passed. Sandy is about to go in for more money and that would be the time for our Federal legislation to say Texas needs funding too.
  • Sen. Kolkhorst- I’m nervous about the Federal government being pro-active. Has it ever been done that we issue bonds off of some source and assessment to help pay off the bonds? Don’t want Texas to put financing forward and then be stuck with maintenance forever.  
  • Committee discusses length of time it could take to get something completed and need to fast track the plan and get something in place.

 
Heather Lagrone, Staff Director, General Land Office

  • Currently looking at 5 major projects:
    • The Gulf Coast Community protection recovery district- Examine a coastal spine.
    • Texas Coastal Resiliency Study- List of potential infrastructure projects.
    • Texas Coastal Master Plan- Ecological preservation and storm suppression. Small and midlevel studies.
    • Sabine Pass to Galveston Bay study
    • Coastal protection and Restoration and Feasibility Study- Long term and large scale.
  • Land office provides a $ 3.9 million to GCCPRD to develop a storm surge protection study to reduce vulnerability of upper Texas coast.  2 of the 3 production stages are completed and it will be finished this summer.

 
Tony Williams, Director of Coastal land operations, General Land Office

  • Smaller projects will not need congressional authorization.
  • Master plan will identify costal issues and possible solutions
  • Galveston Study and Costal Texas study are being split 50/50. Sabine Galveston study costs $5.2 million and the Costal Texas study is $19.8 million.
  • Sen. Taylor- Looking at all the studies have you looked at the Restore Act to fund these projects at all?
    • Heather Lagrone- We are looking at financing opportunities. 
  • Sen. Taylor- But when you’re talking about the costal plan there are a lot of environmental components. You should look at the Restore Act.
  • Sen. Garcia- Do you have state funding?
    • Yes, most of the Sabine to Galveston funding came from the Coastal Erosion Planning  and Response Act funding
  • Sen. Garcia- are there any additional dollars being used?
    • I’m not aware of any.
  • Sen. Garcia- we had experts testify they need money are there any other funds available?
    • Not that I’m aware of.

 
Judge Robert Eckles, President, Gulf Coast Community Development and Protection District

  • Gave history of involvement in presented studies and hurricane Ike.
  • Worked on taking the academic studies to build a plan.
  • Built a system designed around Corps financing and building model.
  • North Region – Two alternatives (1) Gate at Neches River (2) lager levee system.
  • Central Region- Two alternatives (1) Run extension of Texas City dike (2) Ike dike with gate in the bay.
  • Sen. Taylor- Levees require continuous beach replenishment. Rice University had some information on the mid-bay report why is that not in your study?
    • It was not out when our study started.
  • Sen. Taylor- so your study started over a year ago?
    • Yes. But there are some good points about the mid-bay. The finished report will likely have a combination of the two.
  • Sen. Taylor- I would like to see mid-bay information included in the study. I think everyone agrees the Ike dike is needed but you want a costal bay system and the mid-bay would be a good place to look. Would be a more plausible political conclusion to put it in the bay.
    • Even with the Ike dike concept there would be intrabay flooding so the gate would help. We want to find the easy things and start doing those. We need to design the project correctly to allow things to get done quicker.
    • Don’t believe you would need a 146 levee system and the Ike dike levee system
  • Sen. Taylor- Some of the proposals such as the 146 barrier actually put some families and businesses more at risk if they are outside of the barrier. Want to include the mid-bay analysis in the report
    • The mid-bay gate is much less expensive but has a billion dollars less of protection
  • Taylor – You would have to have the Ike dike as well and I think everyone agrees with that
    • If we design the project properly we can start picking off things to do and not destroy the benefit/cost ratio and not have to rely on a single act of congress to get it all done
  • Taylor – Would like to start with a plan for the whole thing to show congress and see if there is push back. May need to fund them individually. The coastal barrier is an ultimate priority
  • For the environmental impact of the gate we only have antidotal evidence from the Dutch. Final overall report should be a plan that the committee has been asking for. Need to study the salinity of the bay because it affects the ecosystem and damaged the oysters
  • Taylor – Already have more flow going into the bay than was there naturally. Oyster beds used to cut across the middle of the bay and it was opened up when they ship channel was put in. Doing this may be correcting some things that have been done prior.
  • Sen. Kolkhorst – How are you all funded?
    • A grant through the GLO
  • Sen. Kolkhorst- and you were created…
    • We created ourselves among the county judges, a local government corporation, in 2010 but weren’t funded until ‘13-’14.
  • Sen. Kolkhorst- Then we have Rice and Texas A&M Galveston and the Corps studies. We need to pull this all together and maybe this is the committee to do that. Are you working with A&M and Rice?
    • Yes. Sharing all data. They’ve created a lot of useful information but universities do not build things so we came in to coordinate.
  • Sen. Kolkhorst- The real solution is the federal government funding it but we don’t have 29 years, is there any funding mechanism that we can come up with to fund this?
    • This is a project that is far beyond the capacity of the local communities to fund. There are some local things you can do that may be able to supplement a grant. Hoping to be able to go to other areas of the state and raise money because of the economic activity that takes place along the coast that drives the state and pays for schools throughout the state. The Texas coast can affect the economy of the entire state and the entire nation. Bigger than just the 6 county region.
  • Next step as an entity is to consider different funding models
  • Kolkhorst – Pledges to get something done at the legislative level. Will need the plan to be completed by then.
  • One problem that needs to be considered is gate speed. Proposed gates would need to be closed 3 days in advance, disrupting ship traffic and relying on early forecasting. The swing gate is considered because it is a faster deployment, can open and close more quickly to accommodate the shipping interest.
  • Taylor – That is part of the design factor that needs to be taken into account. Hurricanes can pop up very quickly. When the ship channel is shut down it can cost millions of dollars of economic impact through many industries.
  • Rep. Faircloth- How can we get industries to engage in the project?
    • The challenge is our information is public so they may not want to give us all the information they have.
  • There may be some things we can work on in the tax code or liability issues that we may need to follow up with.
  • Sen. Garcia- Do we have a general consensus from the county judges on what approach we should use?
    • Yes.
  • Sen. Garcia- I know there was one comment one judge made in a recent article that concerned me. Additionally, we had looked at funding local match dollars through the model used for the ship channel. Have you started looking at the feasibility of a local match mechanism?
    • We have had internal discussions but this report will not include that because that is not what the report was funded for. Trying to design the optimal plan but to include the funding concepts would restrain the plan design
  • Sen. Garcia- Who do you think should start looking at that model? This group?
    • This financing structure is going to last beyond this committee and we don’t know all the numbers. Local match depends on how we design this plan.
  • Sen. Kolkhorst- I think the stars are aligned. I’m walking away from this hearing very impressed. We have the congressional leadership right now. Now is the time we can move.
  • Rep. Paul- When you finalize the report you will recommend an option in your study, correct?
    • Yes. There will be a recommendation that will have elements of both in the mid-bay area.
  • Rep. Paul- This gate at Clear Lake, it can be a supplemental part of the Coastal Barrier?
    • Yes. With a budget that can be looked at.
  • Rep. Paul- but it can be built right off the bridge there?
    • It needs further research.
  • Taylor – Will the role of the committee be continued once the plan is finalized?
    • It can be or it can be folded into some other organization.
  • Sen. Taylor- Your report will be finalized in June, correct?
    • Yes
  • Sen-Taylor- if you have specific funding things you need, let us know before January.

 
Public Testimony
Brandon Hill, Shoreline program manager, South Padre Island

  • Shovel-ready plan already exists
    • South Padre Island near Shore Burm Beach nourishment program –HDR engineering
  • South Padre Island is losing 5ft per year.
  • There is a soft coast- beach and dune system is the costal barrier.
  • If the barrier is damaged there is $2 billion in property and tourism lost.
  • 2-3 million cubic yards of sand already exists in the target sites – s only 880,000 needed. 5 months to construct and $20 million.
  • pursued  the support of the GLO, US Army Corps of Engineers
  • Rep. Lucio- does it also help with storm surge?
    • Yes.  You’re creating a sand bank helping to protect the Island.
  • Rep. Lucio -How was this proposal studied? Who funded it? Has it been included in the coast wide study?
    • Hope it is considered by the group doing the comprehensive study

 
Christopher Robb, Resident of Galveston Island

  • Complex structures have to be maintained; need to look at designs from the standpoint of initial effectiveness and maintenance required
  • Netherlands started by building small dikes around communities but they failed.
  • There are high concentrations of tax value in areas that are high risk.

 
Geri Bently, Mayor Pro Tem League City

  • League City passed a resolution in favor of the Ike dike.
  • People are important, you can replace structures but you cannot replace a life.
  • When storms happen corruption happens.
  • There are inefficiencies in agencies that run disaster recovery
  • Agencies can never decide what damage is from wind and what damage is from water

 
Jerry Mohn, President, West Galveston Island Property Owners Association

  • Formed after Tropical storm Francis.
  • Supportive of the studies.
  • In favor of costal spine.
  • Elevating FM 3005 would have huge impacts beach front residents and tax bases.

 
Scot Jones, Director of Advocacy, Galveston Bay Foundation

  • Don’t want to unintentionally, negatively impact the ecosystem in and around Galveston Bay
  • Need to make sure all the environmental studies are considered when planning
  • Environment needs to be protected.

 
Marie Robb, Resident of Galveston Island

  • Supporter of the Ike dike and fortified dunes
  • Could be working on fortified dunes right now
  • Need to be looking at the effects of the back surge on any proposed structures

 
Deshotel noted the legislature will be doing their best to move this project forward as much as the state can.