Gulf Intracoastal Waterway, TX
FACT SHEET as of February 2, 2015
AUTHORIZATION: Various, including PL 77-675 (1942)
and Section 101(a)(29) of WRDA `96
TYPE OF PROJECT: Navigation
PROJECT PHASE: Operation and Maintenance
Barge traffic along the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway
CONGRESSIONAL INTEREST: Senators Cornyn and Cruz (TX), Representatives Weber (TX-14),
Hinojosa (TX-15), Olson (TX-22), Farenthold (TX-27), Vela (TX-34), and Babin (TX-36)
NON-FEDERAL SPONSOR: Texas Department of Transportation
BACKGROUND: The Texas portion of the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway (GIWW) navigation project
consists, generally, of a 12-ft deep by 125-ft wide by approximately 423 mile long shallow-draft channel,
traversing the entire Texas Coast. The main channel extends from the Sabine River to Port Isabel,
Texas and includes several tributary channels along its length. The GIWW project also includes flood
gates and lock navigation structures at the Brazos and Colorado Rivers, respectively. Finally, mooring
basins and mooring buoys are maintained in 12 separate locations along the length of the GIWW. The
mooring basins support the heavy barge traffic, which totaled over 17,000 trips per year in FY2013.
The Texas portion of the GIWW provides for an intermodal link between the Texas deep draft and
shallow draft ports. This intermodal link is essential in connecting Texas ports and waterways with the
petrochemical industries and refineries staggered along the Texas coast. It also provides a critical link
between the Texas ports with national coastal and inland port facilities. The amount of commercial
tonnage transiting the Texas portion of the GIWW annually is equivalent to the seventh largest port in
the nation (73 million tons total in 2011).
The GIWW Mooring Basin Discretionary Report is a navigation study being conducted to provide a
detailed assessment evaluating the capacity of existing mooring facilities at Port Arthur, Port Bolivar,
Pelican Island and the Brazos River Floodgates and the possibility of expanding the capacities for
navigational efficiency. Anticipated completion is April 2015.
The High Island to Brazos Dredge Material Management Plan (DMMP) is a navigation study conducted
to provide a detailed management plan of dredged material for a 20-year time horizon from High Island
to the Brazos River. Anticipated completion is February 2017.
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STATUS: FY 2014 activities included operation activities at the Brazos River Floodgates (BRFG) and
at the Colorado River Locks (CRL); maintenance dredging of the following projects to project depth:
High Island to Port Bolivar reach, Alt Channel at Matagorda Bay reach, Turnstake to Live Oak reach,
and Corpus Christi to Port Isabel reach; maintenance dredging of the following projects to advance
maintenance depth: High Island to Port Bolivar reach and Channel at Matagorda Bay reach;
maintenance of existing mooring buoys; maintenance of BRFG concrete slabs, wiring, conduit,
handrails, intercom system and signage; maintenance at the CRL traffic signals, wiring, conduits, and
signage; installation of shoreline protection at the CRL east lock and bypass channel; repair of guide
walls at CRL; and continuation of the High Island to Brazos River Crossing DMMP study.
ISSUES: Additional funding is needed to effectively maintain the GIWW from Port Arthur to Corpus
Christi to authorized project depth, provide necessary disposal capacity for the shoaled material, and
improve and maintain barge mooring facilities to accommodate increased traffic. Execute Disposal
Area Management Practices (DAMP) on multiple placement areas (PAs), to allow greater consolidation
of material increasing the lifespan of PAs.
FINANCIAL SUMMARY ($):
O&M
Federal Cost Estimate
Non-Federal Cost Estimate
Total Project Cost
N/A
N/A
N/A
Allocation for FY 2012
Allocation for FY 2013
Allocation for FY 2014
Allocation for FY 2015
President Budget FY 2016
Amount That Could Be Used In FY 2016
Balance to Complete
1/ Includes Work Plan Funding of $1,266,000
$
N/A
20,921,000
28,596,000
27,027,000 1/
23,785,000
53,925,000
N/A
SCHEDULE:
FY 2015 Scheduled Work: FY 2015 activities include operation activities at the BRFG and at the CRL;
maintenance dredging of the following projects to project depth: High Island to Rollover reach, Colorado
River to Upper Matagorda Bay reach, Causeway to Bastrop reach, Channel across Aransas Bay reach,
Channel at Matagorda Bay reach; maintenance of existing mooring buoys & debris removal;
procurement of mooring buoys; maintenance at BRFG and CRL consisting of repairing portions of
concrete slabs, wiring and conduit, handrails and ladders, intercom system and signage; continuation of
the DMMP for the High Island to Brazos River Crossing portion of the project; monitoring at Laguna
Madre as part of the approved DMMP, and labor for the Port OConner to CC Bay study.
FY 2016 Budget: FY 2016 activities will include operation activities at the BRFG ($1,750,000) and at
the CRL ($1,750,000); maintenance dredging of the following projects to project depth: Corpus Christi
to Port Isabel reach ($4,800,000), Brazos River to Boggy Bayou reach ($4,200,000), Rollover to
Causeway reach ($4,200,000); maintenance dredging of the following projects to advanced
maintenance depth: Rollover to Causeway reach ($1,500,000); maintenance and repair of existing
mooring buoys ($85,000); Real Estate Right-of-Way coordination along GIWW ($150,000); completion
U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS – GALVESTON DISTRICT
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of Preliminary Assessment for the High Island to Brazos River Crossing reach ($50,000); PA
improvements and shore protection at PA 112-B ($1,250,000) and at PA 93 ($1,250,000); construct
Beneficial Use (BU) site B (South San Antonio Bay) ($1,600,000); and maintenance at BRFG and CRL
consisting of repairs to portions of concrete slabs, wiring and conduit, handrails, ladders, intercom
system and signage ($1,200,000).
Additional funding could be utilized for maintenance of existing mooring buoys and debris removal
($215,000); maintenance dredging of the following projects to project depth: Lydia Ann Channel reach
($1,800,000), Channel to Palacios reach ($1,000,000), and Causeway to Bastrop reach ($4,200,000);
maintenance dredging of the following projects to advanced maintenance depth: Lydia Ann Channel
reach ($700,000), Brazos River to Boggy Bayou reach ($2,500,000), Causeway to Bastrop reach
($2,200,000), Channel to Palacios reach ($800,000), and Corpus Christi to Port Isabel reach
($3,500,000); construct BU sites at site K (Aransas Bay) ($2,500,000) and at site A (North San Antonio
Bay) ($1,300,000); purchase of mooring buoys for various sites located along the GIWW ($1,000,000);
purchase of Lock Tender (site boat) at BRFG ($150,000) and at CRL ($150,000); PA improvements
and shoreline protection at PA’s 104-A, 104-B and 106 ($1,500,000); dewatering various PA’s along the
GIWW ($1,200,000); rehabilitation of existing PA’s along the GIWW ($5,200,000); Mouth of San
Bernard River environmental study ($75,000); and completion of Preliminary Assessment study for the
Colorado River portion of the project ($150,000).
COMPLETION: N/A.
For more information regarding the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway, TX project, contact Mr. Edmond J.
Russo, Jr, P.E. Deputy District Engineer for Project Management, Chief Programs and Project
Management Division at 409-766-3018 or [email protected].
U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS – GALVESTON DISTRICT
www.swg.usace.army.mil
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U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS – GALVESTON DISTRICT
www.swg.usace.army.mil
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