RESTORE Act Bucket 2 Planning Public Meeting
James C. Gibeaut, Ph.D. Coastal and Marine Geospatial Sciences Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies Texas A&M University – Corpus Christi
Public Meetings December 2018 Texas Coast
Gulf of Mexico Shoreline Length:
Gulf = 375 miles
Bays = 5,850 miles
2 Texas Coastal Plain Topography and Bathymetry
Dynamic Environment • Low lying • Gently sloping • Small tide range • Storms • Land subsiding • Most Gulf and bay shorelines retreating Community and Economic Resilience
• Texas coast is important to the state and the country • Population expected to increase 50% from 2010 to 2050 • Need to protect environment, community, and economy
$59 billion exported $25 billion of cargo petroleum and coal passing through GIWW products
$369 million expenditures 29% of the nation’s total on recreational fishing refining capacity trips
$278 million in $19.7 billion spent by commercial seafood tourists traveling to Texas landings coast
Source: Shoring Up the Coast, TGLO (2014 Dat Texas Coastal Ecosystem
Wetlands Rivers Water Quality Oysters Coastal Vegetation
Estuaries Beaches Dunes Fisheries Industry
Adapted from Shoring Up the Coast, TGL State of the Coastal Ecosystem Coastal Erosion Beaumont Sabine Lake Houston
Galveston Bay
Victoria
Matagorda Bay Advancing
Aransas Bay
Corpus Nueces Bay -20 to - Christi 5 Retreating -64 to -20
Baffin Bay
Laguna Madre
Brownsville Source: BEG State of the Coastal Ecosystem Beaumont Land Loss Sabine Lake Houston
Galveston Bay
Victoria Conversion of land to open water
Matagorda Bay Below average ongoing & future loss Above average ongoing loss Aransas Bay Above average future loss
Corpus Nueces Bay Above average ongoing & future loss Christi
Average ongoing loss: 6.7 acres since 1984 Baffin Bay Average future loss: 84.6 acres to 2100
Laguna Madre
Brownsville Source: HRI State of the Coastal Ecosystem Beaumont Land Loss Sabine Lake Houston
Galveston Bay
Victoria Upper Coast Ongoing: 272 ac/yr Conversion of land to open water
Matagorda Bay Below average ongoing & future loss Above average ongoing loss Aransas Bay Above average future loss Middle Coast Corpus Nueces Bay Above average ongoing & future loss Christi Ongoing: 213 ac/yr
Baffin Bay Coast-wide Loss: Ongoing: 679 ac/yr (about 1 square mile/year) Laguna Madre Lower Coast Ongoing: 194 ac/yr
Brownsville Source: HRI State of Restoration Planning in Texas • Inventorying other restoration plans • Federal, state, regional, and local plans (still compiling – not all listed here) • Ecosystem Restoration *Ecosystem = includes Restoration projectsCoastal Hazard Mitigation And Coastal Hazard Supporting Plans Mitigation 1. Restoring the Gulf for 1. Storm Surge 1. Texas Coastal Resiliency 1. Status and Trends of Coastal Waterbirds* Suppression Study* Master Plan* Coastal Hazard 2. Restoring Colonial 2. Community Resilience 2. Coastal Texas Exposure and Waterbirds on the Texas Collaborative* Protection and Mitigation Policies for Coast* Restoration Feasibility the Texas Coast 3. Gulf-Houston Regional Study* 2. Texas Coastal Sediment Conservation Plan* 3. Sabine Pass to Sources General 4. Coastal Bend Bays Plan* Galveston Bay Corps Evaluation Study 5. Restoration of Feasibility Study Re- 3. Texas Prairie Wetlands Wetlands, Coastal, and Scoping Project* Project Nearshore Habitats* 4. Restore Act Direct 4. Texas Coast-wide 6. Final Programmatic Component Texas Erosion Response Plan Damage Assessment Multiyear Update 2018* and Restoration Plan Implementation Plan * 5. Laguna Madre Estuary and Final Programmatic Program Environmental Environmental Impact Strategic Plan* Statement* 6. Partners in Flight Bird 7. Salt Bayou Watershed Conservation Plan Restoration Plan* 7. King Rail Conservation 8. Laguna Madre Plan* Initiative* 8. Little Blue Heron 9. Texas Mid-Coast Conservation Plan* Initiative* 9. Reddish Egret Plan* 10. Chenier Plain Initiative* 10. Mottled Duck 11. Seagrass Conservation Conservation Plan* Plan For Texas* 11. Laguna Madre GIWW Dredged Material Management Plan* Some Coastal Concerns Identified in Plans
Upper Coast Beach & dune erosion Lost habitat Storm surge & flooding Oysters
Middle Coast Beach & dune erosion Lost habitat Migratory bird habitat Seagrasses
Lower Coast Beach & dune erosion Lost habitat Water quality & quantity Endangered species