Coastal Texas StudyClear Lake Channel Flood Wall and Gate

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Coastal Texas Study

• The Coastal Texas Protection and Restoration Feasibility Study (Coastal Texas Study), was initiated in 2014 to evaluate large-scale coastal storm risk management (CSRM) and ecosystem restoration (ER) actions aimed at providing the coastal communities of Texas with multiple lines of defense to reduce impacts from a wide array of coastal hazards.

• The draft report was released recently and is open for public comment until January 13, 2021

• The project scope includes the entire Texas coast from Louisiana to the Mexican border. This is a huge project that will take many years and an estimated $28 Billion to complete.

• Here I focus on proposed structures in the Clear Lake Entrance Channel

Clear Lake Channel Structure

There are 3 primary structures proposed:

1. A Floodwall, 17 ft elevation that extends from NASA Rd 1 to FM 2094 parallel to SH146

2. A Pumping Station, intended to move rainwater runoff out of Clear Lake into Galveston Bay

3. A 75 ft wide Floodgate in Clear Lake Channel just 200-300 ft West of SH146 bridges

Clear Lake Channel Story Map

Flood Gate Location

Clear Lake Channel Structures

Flood Gate Location

The Floodwall

17 ft high floodwall as seen in cross section

Floodgate Leaf Isometric

Floodgate Open

The Floodgate Closed

Side View Section of Floodgate

Note: Sill Elevation is -12 ft

Pumping Station 22,000 cu ft/sec

31 Pump Bays 46.5 ft wide each

Only One 75 ft-Wide Floodgate• We have nearly a year of experience with one 95 ft wide

or one 65 ft wide channel open at a time

• The USCG regards a single channel as unsafe for 2-way traffic during high traffic periods (holiday weekends, boat parades and other marine events)

• USCG required TxDOT to provide traffic lights and flagger boats on weekends to control 2-way traffic through the open channel

• The proposed 75 ft wide floodgate would permanently restrict boat traffic to one-way traffic during busy times

• We need at least 2 channels with floodgates a minimum of 75 ft wide each

What We Can Do

• Now is the time to comment on and object to the current plan - By Jan. 13, 2021

• Every boating organization (GBCA, TMCA, LYC, TASS, CLRA) can send a comment to USACE objecting to this plan

• Every person can send a comment to USACE objecting to this plan

Where to Send CommentsEmail: CoastalTexas@usace.army.milPhone: 409-766-3004

Mailing Address:Attn: Mr. Jeff PinskyEnvironmental Compliance BranchRegional Planning and Environmental CenterP.O. Box 1229Galveston, TX 77553-1229

Note: Mailed comments must be postmarked by January 13, 2021