The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Galveston District, completed a beach renourishment project on South Padre Island using beach-quality sand harvested from a local dredging project.
The district awarded a $3.4 million contract Sept. 27, 2012, to Weeks Marine Inc., which began dredging operations Nov. 3. The contract was completed in January. Partnering with the Texas General Land Office, Cameron County and the City of South Padre Island, the Corps pumped approximately 300,000 cubic yards of dredged material originating from the Brownsville Harbor navigation channel to renourish approximately one half mile of Texas’ famed spring break destination.
“ This dredging project provides multiple benefits with lasting impacts on the South Texas economy,” said Col. Christopher W. Sallese, USACE Galveston District commander . “ Not only do we take care of our mission of keeping America’s waterways navigable, our beach renourishment efforts combat storm surge, prevent coastal erosion, generate economic growth through increased tourism and provide opportunities for recreation .”
The beach nourishment project called ‘Beneficial Use,’ employs environmentally and economically responsible ways to use dredged materials to benefit local communities explained USACE Galveston District Project Manager Alicia Rea, and allows the Corps to improve eroded coastlines through the placement of dredged material.
The USACE Galveston District was established in 1880 as the first engineer district in Texas to oversee river and harbor improvements. The district is directly responsible for maintaining more than 1,000 miles of channel, including 270 miles of deep draft and 750 miles of shallow draft as well as the Colorado River Locks and Brazos River Floodgates.
[mappress] Press Release, January 20, 2012