Save Our Beach

Great details on the project on the Request for Proposal page for the Sargent Breakwater Project   - some interesting things on the construction of the breakwater and jetty at Mitchell's cut. Bids were due on October 25th so they are all in and being analyzed now.  The breakwaters are 400 feet long and spaced 660 feet apart in 4 feet depth of water. The angled terminal groin at the inlet extends to a water depth of 8 feet.  The goal of the project is to reduce beach erosion along Sargent Beach and the Matagorda Peninsula by stabilizing Sargent Beach and protecting the adjacent GIWW from erosional breaching.  The approximate cost range for construction of the Project is $28,000,000 to $35,000,000.  They will be staging at Mitchell's cut and using the road out to the cut to get equipment and supplies there The jetty will be just shy of 1/2 mile long going from the cut into the Gulf The staging areas will be secured - since one of the staging areas is the end of Mi...

 I will admit that my admit that I have been so discouraged, I have not done much research.  But got annoyed today and searched the Government Land Office link to find Request for Proposals that have been released. You can see it below - but this is just the pre-notice.  So when will the RFP be released - well I reached out to Mr. Phan and he assures me - 2-3 weeks.  HOLY COW!  I will continue to monitor the site and let y'all know when  Well it is up there as a pre-notice -  https://www.txsmartbuy.com/esbddetails/view/Pre-RFP_X0029336-LP Pre-Solicitation ID:  Pre-RFP_X0029336-LP Status:  Posted Contact Name:  Linh Phan Contact Number:  512-463-5098 Contact Email:  linh.phan@glo.texas.gov Agency/Texas SmartBuy Member Number:  305 Days Solicited:  60-Day Pre-Solicitation Notice Notice Posting Date:  6/21/2023 Expiration Date:  8/21/2023 Last Modified:  6/21/2023 1:53 pm Pre-Solicitation Description: The ...

This is a pretty big deal - Governor Abbott just signed the approval to spend $550 million for the start of the Ike Dike - this is the barriers and surge gates to protect Galveston (not us). This project will cost a total of $34 billion and the money flows through a Gulf Coast Protection District (once again - does not include us).  Part of what they are trying to do is the surge gates to protect Houston from a catastrophic storm.  Those gates will look like this -  So why should we care?  Because they are serious about saving the coast and there are only 336 miles of Texas Coastline. Obviously they are way far behind our little project and not everyone agrees with some of what they want to do - but at least they are working on getting some help for our coast.  More to come on the Texas Gulf Coast!

We used to always say this in the military - hurry up and wait - and that appears to be the case with the Request for Proposal (RFP) from the Government Land Office (GLO).  I reached out to GLO this morning and received an immediate response.  They do have everything they need from the county and from the contractor.  It is all on GLO to write the RFP and then it has to go to the Comptrollers Office because the RFP is for over $5 million.  And that takes a month. So we are looking at end of summer now.  And at least two months to award the contract.  So we may start construction this year - - and I am still hopeful we will.  Damn. For now we wait. 

 As you should know from the numerous blog posts, we are now in the phase of the project for the Sargent Beach Breakwater and Jetty's where everything is approved, the money is set - we just have to release the Request for Proposals (RFP), get bids, select the contractor and run the project.  The RFP was supposed to be released in April but got delayed by the Texas Government Land Office (GLO).  Commissioner Mike Estlinbaum and County Judge Bobby Seiferman wrote to GLO to get them moving on the RFP.  Within a day, they got a response on some changes that were needed and then it could be released.  So - bottom line is the RFP should go out by the end of May - should take about 60-90 days to select the contractor and we are off and running this fall!  Our commissioners and the project lead are staying on top of things - and they want this as much as we do - so it is coming.  Project plans CLICK HERE - also not included in those plans are beach restorati...

Happy New Year!  Is this the year we finally get our breakwater and jetty project started and complete.  We have new County Commissioners so I reached out to Commissioner Mike Estlinbaum and got a response!!  Nice start.  As you know - there is a pilot project in works to instal a jetty at Mitchel’s Cut and breakwaters from the cut up to stubby. We have the funding, we have the permits - we are just waiting on the RFP (request for proposal) to be released and the project awarded to a contractor. Just this week, the Texas Government Land office (GLO) released the work order to Adkins Global to begin the bid and construction phase of the project.  HUGE NEWS! Note that in order for the RFP process to meet all requirements, this is probably a six month process. We will see the RFP soon, then construction firms have a chance to put together their bids, the bids are reviewed and then finally awarded.  But six months from now they should begin construction!  ...

So today at the County Commissioners the approved sending Beach Dune application to GLO for comments.  Everything is in place. So what the hell are we waiting for? We are waiting for the request for bids to be published and the entire bidding process to be completed.  According to the rep from Atkins - "we are about to enter the process for bidding with GLO - this will take about 6 months start to finish to get the contract awarded." So if it starts in November we will have a contract finally awarded in April - probably start construction in June to be completed by August - hopefully before any more hurricanes after we got so lucky this season.  So remain hopeful and patient I guess.   As for the San Bernard - the project failed due to silting -  https://www.sanbernardriver.com/info.php?pnum=55db9819cad7be Jun 24th  -  PROJECT HALTED - FAILS TO COMPLETE OPENING MOUTH.    Brazoria County Commissioners declare "project completed"...