1. BARRIER ISLANDS
TEXAS GULF COAST

2. AN ISLAND CHAIN CONSISTING OF
PADRE ISLAND
MUSTANG ISLAND
ST. JOSEPHS ISLAND
MATAGORA ISLAND
GALVASTON ISLAND

3. GULF COAST BARRIER ISLAND CHAIN
TEXAS
ISLAND CHAIN MILES
GULF COAST MILES
PADRE ISLAND
GULF OF MEXICO

4. ISLAND CHARCTERISTICS
PADRE ISLAND – Longest “undeveloped” barrier island (113 miles) in the the US. Major recreation area with average of 800,000 visitors yearly (mostly from regional area). More than 60% of island consists of marshes, inland waters, tidal flats and seagrass bed.
MUSTANG ISLAND - Smaller island consisting of five miles of open beach. Provides protection to city of Corpus Christi from high storm tides.
ST. JOSEPHS ISLAND MATAGORA ISLAND – Smaller islands not connected to mainland; only accessible by boat. Nineteen species of endangered or threatened species found here. Island supports over over 300 species of migrating birds.
GLAVESTION ISLAND – Recreation area for Galveston city residents

5. TEXAS HAS CREATED FOUR BARRIER ISLAND STATE PARKS
PADRE – 133K ACRES
MUSTANG – 4K ACRES
MATAGORDA – 7.3K ACRES
GALVESTON – 2K ACRES

6. ISLAND STABILITY
EROSION – Studies indicate that over 200 acres of topsoil washes into the gulf each year. Corps of Engineers estimate that 60% of the shore is eroding, 33% is stable and 7% advancing.
SEDIMENTATION – Sedimentation bearing rivers empty into the gulf via deep channels cut during periods of lowered sea level. Many of these rivers have dams or other engineered projects the impede bringing sediment to the coast.

7. ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS
SHIPPING – Concentrated ocean shipping area. Thirteen major ports on Texas Gulf coast. Facilitated by the Gulf Intra-coastal Waterway. 80% of cargo made up of oil and petrochemical products. Requires dredging and disposal large amount of silt every year.
PETROCHEMICAL – Gulf coast is center of state’s oil refining an petrochemical industry. Approximately 1000 oil spills, major and minor occur each year. Potential also for catastrophic blowout such as the occurred in Extraction occurs on barrier islands such as Padre where there is currently six oil and gas operations and seven pipelines within the park itself.
OTHER – Large amounts of wind and water borne refuse and trash accumulates on the islands and mainland