Update from Commissioner Estlinbaum

Below is the press release put out by Matagorda County today. Judge Sieferman and I had a meeting with the USACOE last week and they are not doing anything with the road. They made it clear once again that they don't care about the road or anyone that needs it. They care about one thing only and that is keeping the ICWW open for commercial traffic. Judging by the fact that the erosion is now to the road and the revetment wall is being overtopped regularly, the ICWW will be part of the Gulf of Mexico soon. This is due to decades of inaction. But I'm not an engineer, just someone that has been watching it erode 30' per year for the last 40 years. 

This office has already taken steps to be ready with funding if the breakwater and replentishment projects ever happen to protect a rebuilt road. I got an estimate today that it will take ~$1.5 million to rebuild the mile of road. I already had an estimate for ~$200K to rebuild the pavillions and picnic table covers and the Port of Bay City set aside $1 milllion to rebuild the boat ramp and fish cleaning table. I will also be abandoning the existing batrooms that have been inoperable for years and build a new batroom facility near the boat ramp and fish cleaning table. The road will be funded through a DRRP grant (if awarded). The county will be applying for a CRP grant in the spring for the pavillions, bathroom, boat ramp and fish cleaning table. Hopefully the USACOE can get it together and have the breakwater project done by the time these grants are funded. These grant applications are already in motion. 

So although the county can't do anything with the USACOE timeline, we can start working on funding for the amminities when and if they do what they say they are going to do. 

You all can help. They hear enough from me. Please write and call your federal officials...often. They are the only ones that can put pressure on the USACOE. Their contacts are:

Rep Troy Nehls office

Robert Schroeder

robert.schroeder@mail.house.gov 

Sen Ted Cruz

Kelly Waterman

kelly_waterman@cruz.senate.gov

They need to hear from you so we can get the west side of the island back.

Matagorda County 

Press release / For immediate release

November 7, 2024

On November 5, 2024, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Galveston District (SWG) issued a press release concerning the closure of Sargent Beach in Matagorda County for public safety reasons. The release states “The designated areas of the boat ramp, mooring dock, and access road (referred to as County Road 238 or West Revetment Road) along the Gulf of Mexico are now closed due to safety concerns stemming from significant erosion and compromised infrastructure caused by recent storms”. USACE has indefinitely closed a section of federally owned property, known as Sargent Beach (West Mooring Dock Park and the Sargent Public Boat Ramp). 

“Our shared responsibility to protect life and safety while ensuring the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway (GIWW) is protected are part of our core missions,” said Neil Murphy, Galveston District’s public affairs chief. “The decision to halt beach access ensures that we are doing our part to keep the community free from harm while we work to address options to improve it and make it safe for public use.”

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Galveston Press release went on to explain, to prevent unauthorized access, a gate will be installed with clear signage indicating that the area is closed until further notice. The public is not authorized to enter the closed section of Sargent Beach, and the boat ramp will no longer be accessible by vehicle or vessel traffic. “Residents and visitors are urged to respect the closures for their individual safety and the safety of others,” Murphy added.

“The County has no lease agreements with USACE at this time for the federally owned property along the beach in Sargent due to continued delays in the Sargent Breakwater Project and decisions made concerning that property derive exclusively from USACE,” explained Matagorda County Judge Bobby Seiferman. 

This stretch of beach including the road was ordered to be closed by the Corp of Engineers on June 28, 2024.

On June 28, 2024, the Matagorda County Office of Emergency Management issued a press release stating that, Matagorda County officials have been instructed to immediately close West Morring Station Road by the United States Corp of Engineers. This road is along the revetment wall and is west of FM 457, in Sargent Texas.

The call came in on June 28, 2024, at approximately 215 pm from the Office of Tim Nelson, he is the Real Estate Chief for the United States Corp of Engineers. Matagorda County Commissioner Mike Estlinbaum said he would follow the direction of the Corp of Engineers and hopes for a permanent repair or replacement of that road.

Commissioner Estlinbaum said, “it is clear to me that the road is the property of the Corp of Engineers, and it is illegal for the County to spend any time, money, or resources on the road.

Continued from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers press release:

Sargent Beach experiences one of the highest erosion rate areas along the Gulf of Mexico barrier islands. Studies conducted through the 1970s and 80s indicated that storm surge was threatening to breach the island, potentially impacting the GIWW. In response, and according to mission requirements of the organization, USACE constructed an 8-mile revetment wall and dirt road between 1995 and 1998 to safeguard against such breaches. A section of dirt access road was paved and renamed CR 238 for access to the park. The paved section of the road had been maintained by Matagorda County as part of the park lease arrangement.

For more explanations and further updates regarding the Sargent Beach closure and plans for the area, please visit www.swg.usace.army.mil or contact the Galveston District Public Affairs Office.

Matagorda County Office of Emergency Management is the managerial function charged with creating the framework within communities to reduce vulnerability to hazards and cope with disasters. Emergency management seeks to promote safer, less vulnerable communities with the capacity to cope with hazards and disasters.

For more information about this developing situation please contact Mitch Thames 

Matagorda County PIO.

mitchthames@visitbaycity.org

Cell number 832-595-4168