Enhancing the Sustainability of Gulf Intracoastal Waterway Dredge Material Placement Areas
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TTI: 0-6962 Enhancing the Sustainability of Gulf Intracoastal Waterway Dredge Material Placement Areas Technical Report 0-6962-R1 Cooperative Research Program TEXAS A&M TRANSPORTATION INSTITUTE COLLEGE STATION, TEXAS in cooperation with the Federal Highway Administration and the Texas Department of Transportation http://tti.tamu.edu/documents/0-6962-R1.pdf Technical Report Documentation Page 1. Report No. 2. Government Accession No. 3. Recipient's Catalog No. FHWA/TX-19/0-6962-R1 4. Title and Subtitle 5. Report Date ENHANCING THE SUSTAINABILITY OF GULF Published : April 2019 INTRACOASTAL WATERWAY DREDGE MATERIAL 6. Performing Organization Code PLACEMENT AREAS 7. Author(s) 8. Performing Organization Report No. C. James Kruse, Ali Mostafavi, Chao Fan, Juan Moya, and Anthony Risko Report 0-6962-R1 10. Performing Organization Name and Address 10. Work Unit No. (TRAIS) Texas A&M Transportation Institute The Texas A&M University System 11. Contract or Grant No. College Station, Texas 77843-3135 Project 0-6962 12. Sponsoring Agency Name and Address 13. Type of Report and Period Covered Texas Department of Transportation Technical Report: Research and Technology Implementation Office September 2017–October 2018 125 E. 11th Street 14. Sponsoring Agency Code Austin, Texas 78701-2483 15. Supplementary Notes Project performed in cooperation with the Texas Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration. Project Title: Determine Placement Areas Sustainability URL: http://tti.tamu.edu/documents/0-6962-R1.pdf 16. Abstract Placement areas for dredged material (DMPA) from the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway (GIWW) are a responsibility of the state of Texas. Given population and industrial growth along the coastline and the continual need for dredging, it is important to use the sites efficiently and ensure their integrity. This research provided the analytical framework and methodology that will enable the Texas Department of Transportation to develop a strategic program for the restoration and protection of the DMPAs of the GIWW along the Texas Coast. The work plan combined general physical, environmental, and economic data to provide strategic direction and develop information on techniques and potential measures to enhance the long-term performance of placement areas and dredging activities. A tool using Analytic Hierarchy Process was created to evaluate various feasible solutions based on consideration of multiple criteria such as lifecycle costs, safety, and environmental sustainability. The research focused on East Matagorda Bay, the highest priority segment of the GIWW. Protecting this reach of the GIWW against long-fetch bay-induced wind/wave energies will significantly increase navigation safety and efficiencies and reduce navigation channel shoaling, resulting in reduction of maintenance dredging cycles. The research produced an extended list of improvement features, considerations, and evaluation options that could be prioritized as shoreline changes are observed or storm-induced waves and shoaling or current/wave- regimes negatively impact navigation safety. 17. Key Words 18. Distribution Statement Gulf Intracoastal Waterway, GIWW, Placement No restrictions. This document is available to the Areas, Dredging public through NTIS: National Technical Information Service Alexandria, Virginia http://www.ntis.gov 19. Security Classif. (of this report) 20. Security Classif. (of this page) 21. No. of Pages 22. Price Unclassified Unclassified 134 Form DOT F 1700.7 (8-72) Reproduction of completed page authorized ENHANCING THE SUSTAINABILITY OF GULF INTRACOASTAL WATERWAY DREDGE MATERIAL PLACEMENT AREAS by C. James Kruse Director, Center for Ports & Waterways Texas A&M Transportation Institute Ali Mostafavi Assistant Professor Texas A&M University Chao Fan Graduate Research Assistant Texas A&M University and Juan Moya Anthony Risko Coastal Program Freese and Nichols, Inc. Report 0-6962-R1 Project 0-6962 Project Title: Determine Placement Areas Sustainability Performed in cooperation with the Texas Department of Transportation and the Federal Highway Administration Published: April 2019 TEXAS A&M TRANSPORTATION INSTITUTE College Station, Texas 77843-3135 DISCLAIMER This research was performed in cooperation with the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). The contents of this report reflect the views of the authors, who are responsible for the facts and the accuracy of the data presented herein. The contents do not necessarily reflect the official view or policies of the FHWA or TxDOT. This report does not constitute a standard, specification, or regulation. The United States Government and the State of Texas do not endorse products or manufacturers. Trade or manufacturers’ names appear herein solely because they are considered essential to the object of this report. v ACKNOWLEDGMENTS This project was conducted in cooperation with TxDOT and FHWA. The authors thank the following members of the TxDOT Project Monitoring Committee for their guidance and support: • Emily Shelton, Maritime Division. • Matthew Mahoney, Maritime Division. • Sunil Chorghe, Houston District. vi TABLE OF CONTENTS Page List of Figures ................................................................................................................................ x List of Tables ............................................................................................................................... xii Executive Summary ...................................................................................................................... 1 Introduction and Background ..................................................................................................... 1 Selection of Critical Area for Detailed Evaluation ..................................................................... 1 East Matagorda Bay: Current Conditions, Dredging Activities, and Potential Economic Impacts ............................................................................................................................ 1 Alternative Natural Solutions ..................................................................................................... 4 Feasible Solutions for Selected Area .......................................................................................... 6 Proposed Shoreline Protection Solutions in East Matagorda Bay .............................................. 9 Programmatic Approach to the Sustainability of the DMPAs .................................................. 11 Application of Findings to Other Areas .................................................................................... 11 Summary of Conclusions and Recommendations .................................................................... 11 Chapter 1: Selection of Critical Locations to be Evaluated .................................................... 13 Introduction ............................................................................................................................... 13 Locations Evaluated .................................................................................................................. 14 East Matagorda Bay .............................................................................................................. 14 West Galveston Bay .............................................................................................................. 16 East Galveston Bay ............................................................................................................... 17 Cedar Lake ............................................................................................................................ 17 Matagorda Bay ...................................................................................................................... 17 San Antonio Bay ................................................................................................................... 17 Chapter 2: Current Conditions, Dredging Activities, and Potential Economic Impacts ............................................................................................................................. 19 Introduction ............................................................................................................................... 19 Physical Conditions .................................................................................................................. 19 Dredging Data ........................................................................................................................... 21 Habitat Types ............................................................................................................................ 22 Effect of Reduced Draft ............................................................................................................ 24 Assumptions and Base Data .................................................................................................. 24 Light Loading Analysis ......................................................................................................... 25 Cost of Dredging ................................................................................................................... 26 Differential between Annual Average Costs Avoided by Dredging and Cost of Dredging ................................................................................................................... 27 Chapter 3: Alternative