Big news on the San Bernard issue! Pictures concerning the event are available upon request.
Janice R. Edwards
162 Fisherman’s Isle
Brazoria, Texas 77422
979-964-4332
Cell: 713-628-8991
October 19, 2007
For immediate release. Please announce the following event:
Texas Department Of Transportation announces San Bernard River Mouth Plans
What do you see as the future of the San Bernard River? Friends Of the River San Bernard (F.O.R. San Bernard) see it as a legacy to future generations in Brazoria County. The San Bernard River affects all the communities west of the Brazos and many other people throughout the county – and state - who have enjoyed fishing, skiing or just a scenic sunset glistening on the water. The San Bernard River’s mouth closure also negatively impacts the currents at the west gates of the Brazos in the Intracoastal Canal, causing costly delays and damages for barge traffic navigating the gates. That fact initiated action by Texas Department of Transportation (who is responsible for the Intracoastal Canal in Texas) to alleviate the problems at the flood gates.
F.O.R.’s River Mouth Chairman, Roy Edwards, was contacted by TxDOT representative for this project, Jennifer Moczygemba early in October requesting an investigational field trip to the mouth. F.O.R. was more than happy to comply with TxDOT wishes. The field trip came together, Wednesday October 10 with about 40 representatives from the following groups attending: TxDOT; Diana Kile from Congressman Ron Paul’s office; National Marine Fisheries Service; the U.S. Corps of Engineers, Galveston office; Texas Parks and Wildlife, Texas General Land Office, Brazoria Co. Commissioner Donald “Dude Payne (Pct.1), Brazoria County Commissioner Mary Ruth Rhodenbaugh (Pct.4); Brazoria County Engineering Dept.; Brazoria County Flood Control; Brazoria County Parks Dept.; the Brazoria County Shoreline Restoration Task Force; and members of F.O.R.’s Mouth Committee and Board of Directors. After the field trip, F.O.R. facilitated a meeting and luncheon for the group at their new Community Center on C.R. 510B.
Below are TxDOT’s plans which grew out of their interest in alleviating the problems at the west gate of the Brazos (see Navigation Issues courtesy of Gulf Intracoastal Canal Association [GICA] http://www.sanbernardriver.com/sanbernard/mouth/resources/brazos_floodgates_GICA_3-7.pdf ) and were confirmed at Wednesday’s meeting:
TxDOT has located $300,000.00 and has set it aside to dig a “ditch” (initial thoughts are 50 feet wide by 4 feet deep at mean low tide (mlt) near the original mouth location (1990) and monitor the results. If there are positive changes in the currents at the west gate of the Brazos further action may be taken. TxDOT is currently developing the actual scope of the work - and alternatives - in order to perform the necessary environmental evaluation for dredging at that location. TxDOT’s goal is to provide an opening that will maintain a flow for a reasonable amount of time based on the cost put into the project.
Once ownership issues have been resolved and the environmental work is complete – including public involvement – and proper permits have been obtained from the Corps of Engineers, TxDOT would be able to start work. They will be using previous Corps studies of the San Bernard River mouth as a starting point.
The initial funds ($300,000.00) for this project are currently available. However, the Commission must first review and approve the project before expending the funds. Depending on further project development, additional funds may be needed for obtaining construction easements or to cover escalation in construction cost estimates. The party that will actually do the dredging is still to be determined.
So, when can we expect the first shovel of sand to be moved? According to TxDOT, this largely depends on ownership and the environmental assessment and the best estimate is a year, or longer. A start date is finally on the horizon.
For more information on TxDOt navigational issues, please read the 2005-06 TxDOT report to the Texas Legislature:
http://www.dot.state.tx.us/publications/transportation_planning/giww05.pdf
F.O.R. is working hard to restore, protect and promote this natural habitat, but it takes the involvement of all governmental entities involved with this issue. Thanks to TxDOT, the first measurable step has been taken for opening the San Bernard River mouth, and for the “Singing River”, the song of the future is being sung.
For more information and to find out what you can do to help, monitor www.sanbernardriver.com.
For more information, contact the Mouth Chairman, Roy Edwards at: 979-964-4332, or TxDOT Transportation Planning and Programming Division Multimodal Section Director, Jennifer Moczygemba at 512-486-5125.
“Life is what we make it – always has been, always will be.” – Grandma Moses
Sincerely,
Jan Edwards, F.O.R. Press Relations and member of the Mouth Committee