Washington -- The Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM), U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Galveston District, and Texas General Land Office (GLO) have entered into a memorandum of understanding to address coastal restoration in Texas. This effort is intended to streamline and synchronize Gulf of Mexico sediment resource identification for Texas coastal protection and restoration projects and plans.
“By working together our agencies will be able to better serve the people of the Texas Gulf Coast through expediting the identification and distribution of significant sediment resources thus resulting in enhanced coastal resiliency and reduced risk to coastal assets,” said Mike Celata, BOEM’s Gulf of Mexico Office Regional Director.
As the federal agency with jurisdiction over marine minerals on the Outer Continental Shelf, BOEM facilitates access to and manages the use of non-energy marine minerals, including sediment, through environmentally responsible stewardship, prudent exploration and leasing activities, coordination with governmental partners and stakeholders, and mission-focused research to improve decision-making and management.
"Working together with BOEM and GLO is key to our integrated plan for Texas coastal resilience," said Col. Timothy Vail, Commander, USACE Galveston District. "Our agencies are working together to increase our understanding of existing data on sand resources, while at the same time identifying information gaps that we can work together to close. Each agency on this MOU has a significant role to play as we prepare for future large-scale restoration projects. Understanding the nature of coastal materials is critical to the success of those projects"
USACE and GLO have a combined mission that includes Texas Coastal Storm Risk Management and Ecosystem Restoration (CSRM/ER). A series of ongoing events, including sea level rise, land subsidence and reduced sediment, are resulting in the loss of beach, dune and wetland systems that act as a storm buffer to the mainland of Texas. These events are reducing the effectiveness of coastal features to protect people and land-based infrastructure from future storms.
"The longevity of our beaches is crucial to the Texas coast," said Mark Havens, Deputy Land Commissioner for Texas GLO. "As erosion continues to diminish the size of our beaches, renourishment is essential to stabilize critical areas, protect private and public property, and provide added protection from the impacts of coastal storms and high tides. The Texas General Land Office is pleased to work alongside the Bureau of Ocean Management and the United States Army Corps of Engineers to protect and sustain the Texas coast through beach renourishment."
A framework will be developed to collect and share data and optimize engineering, economic, and environmental criteria by matching potential sediment sources with future restoration projects and post-construction renourishment requirements. The plan will provide each group with robust communication strategies and shared resources to evaluate alternatives that would maximize utilization of offshore minerals for CSRM/ER and that can be applied anywhere in the United States.
For more information about BOEM’s Marine Minerals Program, please go to: https://www.boem.gov/marine-minerals
For more information about USACE, please go to: https://www.swg.usace.army.mil/
For more information about GLO, please go to: https://www.glo.texas.gov/