Save Our Beach

 On 9/21/2020 I spoke before the Matgorda County Commissioners Court.  Mainly to thank them for what they have done so far and to request that we get more information so that we can help.  I found that that Commissioner Bush from the Government Land Office has appointed Judge McDonald to the group that is looking at coastal erosion - and he is 100% on board with trying to find ways to get our project funded.   It was an excellent exchange.  I had heard through all my research the Judge McDonald has been doing a lot to get things done.  As we have already found out - it comes down to the engineering getting approved and hope to have that by end of December or early Jan/Feb.  We will continue to watch so that we can help out with a public comment period.  I will continue to follow up - the commissioners are trying to get us help! Yay.   Quite timely as I write this Beta is pounding the beach and flooding our house again. 

Great that we got a response - not so great that it is a little confusing. BUT - the bottom line is that our funding opportunity for RESTORE funding which is from the BP oil spill.  The project is controlled by TCEQ with input from the Governor and the Government Land Office - GLO. I highlighted the different items that are key. What this means is that the buckets of money will be in the general programs such as beach erosion for Texas but the specific projects to be funded underneath that will be decided later - BASED UPON PUBLIC COMMENT - that is when we will get really active.  I asked about what was just completed on the funding. Here is the response -  Please note that the publication of the draft FPL 3b list is scheduled for later this year and Council members are in the process of finalizing the document.  Along with several other states, the Texas submissions that are expected to be included in the draft FPL 3b document will be programmatic and not project specific .  At this t

They updated the RESTORE page recently and I posted about the update as it didn't look like we got funded. I wrote the project manager from ATKINS Global which is the prime contractor on the project.  This the update -  It looks like the TCEQ recommended shoreline protection in the bays and along the GIWW in the   Bucket2 FPL3 funding . It does not appear to have included beach money from this funding niche. However, if you look at the  Bucket 3 State Expenditure Plan (SEP): Approved  (RESTORE the TX Coast) The posting on 8/17/20 indicates the TCEQ increased the amount of funds requested for the  Shoreline and Beach Restoration program by $15,660,000 for a total of $23,490,000  in the SEP. We will have to stay in touch with Toby Bakers office at TCEQ to learn when these funds will be made available and how we apply for these funds.  As far as the Corps permit, we are waiting for the Corps to assign a project manager for the Sargent project. Once assigned, the permit will go throug

 https://cbi.tamucc.edu/CHRGIS/Sargent-Beach/?fbclid=IwAR0rIfHwfavu6a2NPSc9lzOwYPs20B2sJXV5R82glS2JCOj_SLdWliU400k The Sargent Beach study area encompasses approximately 4 miles of shoreline along Matagorda Peninsula in Matagorda County.  The west-end of the larger uninterrupted beach terminates at Mitchell’s Cut while the east-end is bordered by Cedar Lakes Pass, a small ephemeral inlet.  The Mouth of the Colorado River is located approximately 20 miles to the southwest and the Brazos River and Freeport Ship Channel are located approximately 15 miles and 22 miles, respectively, to the northeast.  Sediment transport into the area is limited by both the proximity of Mitchell’s Cut at the west end and larger inlets to the north (Freeport Ship Channel) and south (Mouth of the Colorado River) which together compartmentalize the region. Thus, Sargent beach is isolated, with regard to sediment transport, resulting in finite sand resources and historically high rates of shoreline erosion.  Al

It appears that our funding was not put forward by TCEQ and the Governor for RESTORE funding. As you recall, we sent in letters of support for this project to get the $35 million for Sargent Beach.  The Governor and Toby Baker set other priorities.   I have emailed our County leaders as well as TCEQ and RESTORE to get a better understanding of what this means for our project.  Will post when I get more information.  Update to Bucket 2 FPL 3 Funding As part of the on-going process to select programs and projects for funding under Bucket 2, the RESTORE Council staff has posted 24 proposals submitted by seven RESTORE Council members. Summary information on all of the submitted proposals being considered for the next round of Bucket 2 funding, referred to as FPL 3b, can be viewed at:  https://www.restorethegulf.gov/funded-priorities-list-3b As Governor Abbott’s appointee to the RESTORE Council, TCEQ Executive Director Toby Baker submitted four program proposals for Texas. These proposals w

 Beach Nourishment study -  https://www.glo.texas.gov/coastal-grants/projects/1638-sargent-beach-breakwater-beach-nourishment-pilot-study.html?fbclid=IwAR3hGYN_0VyFgo9ylneC5x6OK_-KQao4OasNl-9eJj-2E6oagD_ClbBMYGU Restore Funding -  https://restorethetexascoast.org/ https://www.baycitysentinel.com/articles/2019/10/10/county-takes-next-step-preventing-sargent-beach-erosion-mike-reddell   A contract for work that’s the next step in the Sargent Beach breakwater and renourishment pilot study was approved by commissioners court at its regular meeting Monday, Oct. 7.    “This is the next step” on a multi-phase process to prevent Sargent Beach erosion and to rebuild it, County Judge Nate McDonald said.    Earlier this year, the study proposed placing five, 442-foot-long barriers – 600 feet apart – in the surf at an eight-foot depth.    The study also calls for sand renourishment on the beach until that and the barriers restore the beach.    The contract the county signed Monday for this part of

Bureaucrats do respond to political leaders putting pressure on them.  So I think that we should get our main political leaders involved if possible Senator Cornyn -  https://www.cornyn.senate.gov/contact Senator Curz -  https://www.cruz.senate.gov/?p=form&id=5 Congressman Cloud -  https://cloud.house.gov/contact/ Speaker Bonen -  https://house.texas.gov/members/member-page/email/?district=25&session=86 Senator Lois W. Kolkhorst -  https://loisfortexas.com/contact/ Dear XXXX, Sargent Beach Texas needs your help.  We have a critical issue with beach erosion that has been made worse by the recent hurricanes.  If something is not done soon, we will lose the island and protection for the Intracoastal waterway.  The Texas General Land Office and Matagorda County have a plan for coastal protection and replensishment but we need the plan implemented as soon as possible.  We are now waiting on permits from the Army Corps of Engineers and would like to ask your help in pushing to expedi

 The project is being driven by GLO and Matagorda County -  For letters to Matagorda County - you can write to the county commissioners -  Kent Pollard who represents Sargent Beach and Judge Nate Macdonald who is the head man and really seems to be leading the project. They have been staying on the project so thanking them and stressing the urgency would be great - for example      Dear XXXX, Thank you for what you are doing to save the Beach in Sargent. The continued beach erosion has left the island with little left in defense from storms creating an even greater sense of urgency for the completion of the beach erosion project. With two Hurricanes hitting the island, we are even more concerned that we are seriously running out of time to save the island.  Please do everything you can to expedite the project and let us know what we can do to keep this project moving.  Thank you.  You go to the website below and click on email and it will bring up a form where you can copy and paste a

  Mr. Saba, thanks for your email from this past Tuesday concerning the impact to Sargent Beach from hurricanes Hanna and Laura. Indeed, we share your concern about the impact these storms have had on Sargent beach, an area already experiencing one of the highest annual erosion rates along Texas’ Gulf-facing coast. Shortly after Hanna, we had correspondence with Judge McDonald concerning impacts to both Sargent “East” and “West” areas from that storm and he was able to have Matagorda County Pct 6 Constable Bill Orton send us a significant number of images documenting the impact of Hanna’s surge on Sargent Beach. As of this writing, we have yet to see additional on the ground images depicting further impacts to Sargent Beach from Hurricane Laura. As you are aware, the GLO and Matagorda County have partnered on a pilot project to address the long-term stabilization of Sargent Beach; for years, sediment has been drawn west along the shoreline and pulled into Mitchell’s cut, so previous re

  Save Our Beach - Update - got a great note from Kent Pollard last night - The Sargent Breakwater and Beach Nourishment Project was submitted for USACE permitting on or about the 30th of July. Matagorda County has worked very closely with the GLO on the design of this project. I sincerely believe all agencies involved in this project are aware of the urgency involved. He also gave me another contact at USACE (Army Corps of Engineers) he has the permit for review. My next questions - is this just for the pilot that is supposed to start in January west of the pier? or the whole project? And what entity is actually in charge of the project - seems like it is joint between Matagorda and GLO (government land office) Will keep you posted Beach Nourishment Study - The initial study was all done with grant funds..  https://www.glo.texas.gov/coastal-grants/projects/1638-sargent-beach-breakwater-beach-nourishment-pilot-study.html

  So I spent the last two days sounding the alarm about the increased beach erosion and flooding on the beach. I wrote to the Texas Government Land Office, County Judge Nate McDonald, Speaker Bonnen, Kent Pollard and the Army Corps of Engineers out of Galveston. So far the Army Corps called me back - and it is not really good news. They care about the ICW and the revetment wall will protect that so in their eyes they don't have to do anything more. He said that the problem is that we have lost so much protection (sand) in front of the wall that the flooding on the island will continue to happen even with smaller storms. No protection = more flooding. He has nothing to do with the breakwater other than to approve it if a permit is filed and he is very willing to do that. He was one of the original engineers who worked on the complete plan in the 90's which is pretty cool. My push to our leaders is that we cannot delay - if the sand continues to erode in front of the wall ou

  Gentleman may not actually be me - but I have been pushing and tracking the project. Here is the last I received on the pilot program on February 27- as for the full project, the funding is to be awarded in the fall. Dave- the project will still go through two phases prior to being “shovel ready” for construction. First, we are entering the preliminary engineering phase and regulatory permitting. The project will be designed to a level (35%) that we can submit our permits to the Corps and GLO. Once we are through the public notice from the USACE permit and we don’t see any show stoppers, we will move to the full engineering phase. The project will go from a 35% design level all the way through 65%, 100% to the construction documents and specifications. We should be able to accomplish within this years’ time frame. We can advance the engineering design to completion while we wait for the permit to be completed. The project will be ready for construction at that point. So January 2021,

  So when will we find something out about beach restoration you ask? I was curious too and reached out to the group in charge - and as we say in the military - hurry up and wait. So fall - with 2021 funding if we get it. " RestoreTexas Thank you for contacting us through the Texas RESTORE web site. In response to your inquiry, please note that the RESTORE Council is in its preliminary stages of developing a draft list of programs/projects for consideration for funding under RESTORE Bkt 2 grants. This draft list of programs/projects, referred to as FPL 3b, is expected to be posted for public comment in the fall of 2020. The final list of programs/projects is expected to be approved by the RESTORE Council Steering Committee in the Spring of 2021. RESTORE Bkt 2 FPL 3b grant funds are not expected to be available until mid.2021, at the earliest. As for Texas, if a program/ project was on the  list  posted for comment last fall (September 2019) it can continue to be considered; howeve

  David Saba S S e p c o t S t e m b e m d r i s   2 f 1 m p i o , n o s s g   2 0 t 1 o s 9 i u r e i S d S    ·  Time is almost up letters must be in by Monday afternoon 9/23 - all you need to do to help save Sargent Beach from erosion by helping us get funding for beach water erosion projects is to cut and paste the below in an email to: RComments@tceq.texas.gov Also email all the residents you know to get them to do it as well - this is a numbers game. We must show support - re: RESTORE Bucket 2 Funding Sargent Segmented Breakwater and Beach Nourishment Project Dear Commissioner Baker: As a resident of Sargent, TX, I (we) fully support and recommend the Sargent Segmented Breakwater and Beach Nourishment Project as one of Texas’ pre-proposal projects to be submitted to the RESTORE Council for Bucket 2 RESTORE funding consideration. We have watched helplessly as our Gulf facing shoreline has eroded to the bare clay bottoms. Without the construction of this project, our coastline will