1. Brazoria County RESTORE Act Projects
Presentation to
Brazoria County
Commissioner’s Court
January 25, 2016

2. Brazoria County Objective
Brazoria County has two projects they are currently developing for potential funding through the RESTORE Act program. Project 1: Restoration of the county fishing pier located at Quintana Beach Project 2: Ecosystem restoration project to reopen of the Mouth of the San Bernard River to restore the natural flow of the river to the Gulf of Mexico.

3. Quintana Pier
November 2012
May 2014

4. Project Scope
Brazoria County is seeking a RESTORE Act grant to fund the renovation of the existing Quintana Pier to include a 200 ft. extension of the pier into the Gulf of Mexico capped with a new 150 ft. T-head. The renovation, new extension and T- head will be compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).

5. Quintana Pier Background
The current pier was constructed by the county in the 1988 to facilitate recreation opportunities for county residents and tourists
Length- 240 ft.
Width- 10 ft.
Elevation- 15 ft.
T-head- 58 ft.
The pier is constructed on timber piles with a treated lumber deck and has a lighting system that runs along the pier and T-head.
The current pier is accessible by stairs and a wheel chair ramp but it is not 100% ADA compliant.

6. Quintana Pier Actions completed to date:
Structural assessment of the existing pier is complete
Survey of the land and water side is complete
Geotechnical borings on landside are complete (waterside boring will be completed during final design)
Conceptual design and project opinion of cost are complete
USACE permit is pending
GLO permit has been issued

7. Plan and Section Views

8. Cost Estimate The cost estimate includes:
Restoration of the existing pier,
Extension of the pier 200 ft.
Construct 150 ft. T-head
Upgrade and extend electrical lighting
Estimated construction cost is $165 per sq. ft.
Total project opinion of cost approximately- $1.72M

9. Project Benefits Recreation Educational platform for local schools
Fishing
Birdwatching
Site seeing
Compliments and enhances the County’s existing Quintana Beach Park
Educational platform for local schools
Promotes Tourism

10. Readiness
Project planning, is complete, permitting is underway and final design and construction can be completed in 7-12 months
Projected RESTORE Act funding source- Pot 1

11. San Bernard River

12. Project Scope
Brazoria County is seeking a RESTORE Act grant to fund an ecosystem restoration project to open the mouth of the San Bernard River. The proposed project is to dredge the river’s historical channel to a width and depth that will enhance river flow, alleviate local flooding, restore normal drainage conditions to the regional wetlands, and reduce sediment flow and erosion along the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway. The dredge material will be used beneficially to counter subsidence and to restore wetlands within the San Bernard National Wildlife Refugee. Beach quality material will be beneficially used to nourish the beach along the refugee.

13. Background
In 1929, USACE diverted the Brazos River around Freeport to reduce flooding and shoaling at Port Freeport.
Today, the mouth of the San Bernard River is heavily influenced by the new Brazos River delta.
The average annual suspended-sediment yield of the Brazos is the highest of all rivers in Texas, 39 metric tons per square kilometer (Curtis et al. 1973)
The river closure is caused by three main factor;
Sediment transfer though the littoral drift from the new delta
Reduced flows down the San Bernard River
Gulf wave and tidal forces pushes material into the mouth
In 2009, USACE dredged the mouth open
By Feb 2012, the mouth was again closed due to shoaling

14. History

15. Bathymetry Change River Flow Data

16. San Bernard River Actions completed and pending:
Hydrodynamic modeling and alternatives development-complete
Team evaluated six different management options
No action
Dredging only
Dredging with stabilization- single jetty/groyne
Dredging with stabilization-double jetty
Dredging with stabilization- East weir jetty and west typical jetty
Establish a channel to connect Cedar Lakes to increase the tidal prism
Each of these options was evaluated to maximize channel width, depth and required length for structural features
USACE and GLO permitting is underway
Survey is complete
Geotechnical investigations differed until final design
Preliminary project opinion of cost is complete
The dredging only option is estimated at $10.3 M

17. Potential Dredge Channel Configurations

18. Project Benefits
Ecosystem Restoration- Restoring historical flow enhances over 10,000 acres of critical wetlands habitat
Reopens a historical fish pass along the coast
Enhances water quality within the region
Reduces the local flood risk and the navigation hazards along the GIWW associated with backflow
Reduces sediment transfer and erosion along the GIWW
Reestablishes the historic fish pass

19. Project Benefits Beneficial use of dredge material
Restore wetlands in San Bernard Wildlife Refugee/Justin Hurst WMA
Counters regional coastal subsidence
Beach Nourishment
Reintroduces material to the littoral drift benefiting Matagorda County

20. Readiness Project Planning is well underway
Final alternative selected summer of 2015
Environmental permitting -underway
Final design and construction to begin upon approval of the grant
Design and construction 12 months
Project is supported by the County, the local community, local industry, Port Freeport, the Brazosport Chamber and USACE
Potential Restore Act funding sources- Pot 1 and Pot 2
NRDA grant through TPWD and National Fish and Wildlife Foundation

21. Grant Applications Due to the State by April 15, 2016
Grants evaluated on the following criteria:
Economic benefits 25 pts
Environmental benefits 25 pts
Comprehensive factors 20 pts
Project Logistics 20 pts
Community engagement 20 pts
Evaluation panel is composed of representatives from TCEQ, GLO, TPWD, TxDOT, and Governors of Economic Development and Tourism
Governor gets to make the final call

22. Questions