Protect The Natural Dune Seawall, Our First Line of Defense Against Hurricanes Richard L. Watson, Ph.D. TexasCoastGeology.com (361)

TexasCoastGeology.com

A River of Sand, Sand Movement in the Surf Zone 700,000 to 800,000 cuyd/yr 250 Dump Trucks Per Day One Dump Truck Every 6 Minutes TexasCoastGeology.com

Sabine TexasCoastGeology.com

Central Padre Convergence, Accretion convergence From GLO

MANSFIELD PASS MANSFIELD PASS TexasCoastGeology.com

San Luis Pass Ebb Delta TexasCoastGeology.com

Packery Channel, 11/27/2005 TexasCoastGeology.com

Galveston East Jetty TexasCoastGeology.com

Dredging Rates From Bales and Holley, 1989

The Breakers,1906 TexasCoastGeology.com

The Breakers, 1994

The Breakers, 1995 TexasCoastGeology.com

The Breakers, 1998 TexasCoastGeology.com

Freeport Jetties, Surfside Old Delta Location New Delta Freeport Channel TexasCoastGeology.com

Brazos River Delta NEW OLD

New Brazos River Delta San Bernard River TexasCoastGeology.com Old Delta

The Octagon, 1969 From Surfriders website

The Octagon, 2000 From Surfriders website

Surfside before H. Rita TexasCoastGeology.com

Surfside Village, TX after Rita TexasCoastGeology.com

Surfside Village after Rita TexasCoastGeology.com

Holly Beach before Rita TexasCoastGeology.com

Holly Beach After Rita TexasCoastGeology.com

Holly Beach, LA after Rita TexasCoastGeology.com

Dauphin I., AL after Katrina TexasCoastGeology.com

1912 to 1978 Hurricanes USACE Texas Coast Hurricane Study, Corpus Christi Bay Study Segment, 1979 TexasCoastGeology.com

All Storms Since 1851 TexasCoastGeology.com

Hurricane Carla Wind Field, 1961 Miles O. Hayes, 1967 TexasCoastGeology.com

Hurricane Carla Surge, 1961 Miles O. Hayes, 1967 TexasCoastGeology.com

Celia Surge Flood, Port Aransas USACE, GALVESTON DIST. TexasCoastGeology.com

Port Aransas, Early 60s TexasCoastGeology.com

Pre-Jetty Foredune Ridge TexasCoastGeology.com

Beach and Dune System Texas General Land Office (GLO) TexasCoastGeology.com Private land boundary Seaward limit structures

Weak Area Natural Dune Seawall Texas General Land Office (GLO) TexasCoastGeology.com

Natural Dune Seawall Breached Texas General Land Office (GLO) TexasCoastGeology.com

Beulah Opens Corpus Christi Pass, 1967 TexasCoastGeology.com

Temporary Bridge after Celia, 1970 TexasCoastGeology.com

Island Road after Allen, 1980 TexasCoastGeology.com

Storm Erosion of Dunes Texas General Land Office (GLO) TexasCoastGeology.com

Dune Erosion by Carla, 1961 Miles O. Hayes, 1967 TexasCoastGeology.com

Multiple Buggy Cuts, 1970 TexasCoastGeology.com

Protect the Dune Seawall, 1970 TexasCoastGeology.com

Poor Beach Management, 2005 TexasCoastGeology.com

Pure Sand Graded from Road TexasCoastGeology.com

Removing Dune Sand TexasCoastGeology.com

Lost to the Natural Dune Seawall TexasCoastGeology.com

Port Aransas Beach Regulations The City of Port Aransas shall prohibit beach maintenance activities which will result in the SIGNIFICANT REDISTRIBUTION of sand or which will SIGNIFICANTLY ALTER THE BEACH PROFILE. TexasCoastGeology.com

Port Aransas Beach Regulations The City of Port Aransas shall prohibit beach maintenance activities unless maintenance activities will not materially weaken dunes or dune vegetation or reduce the protective functions of the dunes. TexasCoastGeology.com

State Beach Regulations Add Further Limitations All sand moved or redistributed due to beach maintenance activities shall be returned to the area between the line of vegetation and mean high tide. TexasCoastGeology.com

State Beach Regulations Add Further Limitations The General Land Office encourages the removal of litter and other debris by handpicking or raking and strongly discourages the use of machines (except during peak visitation periods) which disturb the natural balance of gains and losses in the sand budget and the natural cycle of nutrients. TexasCoastGeology.com

Violation of Federal Regulations The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has requested that the City of Port Aransas cease dumping sand below the Mean High Water line. To do so, the City needs a federal permit or it is in violation of the Clean Water Act (CWA). TexasCoastGeology.com

New Dune Ridge in 8 Years, 2005

High Dune, Wide Beach Best? Is a high dune and a wide beach the best protection? The most important part is the maximum volume, height and width of dunes. Hurricane surge will quickly cross any width beach and begin eroding the dunes. We MUST have the largest possible vegetated dune system to buy time for the storm to pass. Is a high dune and a wide beach the best protection? The most important part is the maximum volume, height and width of dunes. Hurricane surge will quickly cross any width beach and begin eroding the dunes. We MUST have the largest possible vegetated dune system to buy time for the storm to pass.

How Should We Manage the Beach? Put a row of bollards in the center of the present road where the trash cans are now. Narrow the driving lane or move the present bollards seaward. This will maintain a pedestrian beach, a driving roadway, parking, and allow the dunes to grow. There is no downside. We maintain the full utility of the beach and get additional hurricane protection at no cost to the City Put a row of bollards in the center of the present road where the trash cans are now. Narrow the driving lane or move the present bollards seaward. This will maintain a pedestrian beach, a driving roadway, parking, and allow the dunes to grow. There is no downside. We maintain the full utility of the beach and get additional hurricane protection at no cost to the City TexasCoastGeology.com

What about the future? Create a procedure to evaluate future needs, including after a hurricane as well as after further dune growth. Require that the dunes be allowed to grow. Create a permanent beach and dune protection board staffed by local citizens and local scientists. Recognize that our beach is our most important tourist attraction and our dunes are our most important hurricane protection. Create a procedure to evaluate future needs, including after a hurricane as well as after further dune growth. Require that the dunes be allowed to grow. Create a permanent beach and dune protection board staffed by local citizens and local scientists. Recognize that our beach is our most important tourist attraction and our dunes are our most important hurricane protection. TexasCoastGeology.com

Vegetated Coppice Dune TexasCoastGeology.com

Protect The Natural Dune Seawall, Our First Line of Defense Against Hurricanes Richard L. Watson, Ph.D. TexasCoastGeology.com (361) Our best storm protection is a high and wide natural dune system.Our best storm protection is a high and wide natural dune system. Let nature build it for us, it is free.Let nature build it for us, it is free. Our best storm protection is a high and wide natural dune system.Our best storm protection is a high and wide natural dune system. Let nature build it for us, it is free.Let nature build it for us, it is free.