| Feb. 4, 2019 Good news. Jerry Hauske is working for new engineering firm T. Baker Smith out of Stratford, TX and was visiting the General Land Office (GLO) in late Dec., and our project, West Galveston Island Entrance Channel Dredging and Marsh Restoration Project Group, received some encouraging news. The Texas GLO contacted Jerry and TPWD to discuss the GLO submitting this project to the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation–Gulf Environmental Benefit Fund (NFWF-GEBF)–for a 2019 funding opportunity. If the project is selected for funding, the GLO would seve as the project manager administering the fiscal and contracting activities of the project and TPWD potentially managing the on-the-ground aspects of the project.
Cherie (of Galveston Beach and Bay Foundation) believes the GLO resubmitting the project for NFWF-GEBF helps our project in 2 ways. Resubmitting the project brings it back toward the top of the list of projects seeking funding and resubmitting it with the GLO as the project manager (and TPWD as a potential partner) shows that the project has state agency support. Here is what the GLO reported to Jerry and Cherie: “The Texas GLO in coordination with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is seeking funds to coordinate with private property owners adjacent to West Bay Galveston Island on beneficial use of dredged material. 9 canals are found within these adjacent communities which must be maintained for navigational purposes through maintenance dredging. Instead of casting this dredged material off, the GLO and TPWD would ensure proper placement into designed marsh mounds in degrading areas in west Bay. All efforts will be made in order to coordinate the placement of dredged material into previous restoration areas created with NFWF funds to increase restoration footprints and enhance previous project restored habitats. To address erosion of the bay shoreline in the Pirate’s Cove area a 900 ft. breakwater is also proposed. The project will occur in 2 phases: project engineering and project constructional and oversight. Engineering and design will consist of data collections, preparation or permit exhibits, engineering design and preparation of a construction proposal package, construction proposal solicitation, construction contract execution, and construction administration. Project construction will consist of channel and canal dredging, the placement of dredged material to specification in order to create estuarine marsh complex, and planting the marsh with Spartina Alterna flora and breakwater emplacement.” Cherie feelsl we have really great potential now to obtain the funds for the engineering costs with GLO involvement and feels we will hear results around June. Cherie, Jerry Hauske, and Jerry Mohn visited Jan. 23, 2019 to make certain they had all aspects reviewed and what to let the group know regarding where we stand. Keep your fingers crosssed. The project is still alive. Feb. 2, 2018 A representative of the Galveston Bay Foundation sent the following encouraging correspondence: —– Forwarded Message —– Charlie, I have not touched base in awhile but wanted to give you a quick update on a small grant GBF has received from USFWS for the island. Initially we were looking to band-aid the failed geotubes on the west bay side, similar to what we did a few years back with the reef balls.. However, after seeing the erosion from Harvey and recent high tides we are looking to have a detailed elevation survey of the island. The new survey would be compares to surveys after initial construction to see how the island has changed since 2011. We would then use this info to hopefully be able to pursue larger funds to add more material back to the island (while at same time dredge channel again) and provide more significant protection of the island for a longer term benefits to wildlife. Of course if we are fortunate to get to a point of being able to do more work to the island we would work closely with the community to make sure y’all are on board with the project, what it hopes to accomplish, what it would look like, etc. If you have any question or concerns let me know. I would be happy to meet with board, etc if needed. Hope all is well! Philip
July 2, 2017 CEPRA Update – Tim Kurtin reported that we didn’t get included on the first round of funding from the RESTORE funds. There are more rounds of funding and we (BHIA) November 2016It has been 6 years since the completion of the last dredging of our Bay Harbor channel, and it is time to plan for the next dredging of the channel that has been filling in. About 12 West Galveston Island subdivisions have joined together to submit one application for the dredging of all community channels, sharing in the application expense. It is a 3-5 year project to secure all the funding required. It is referred to as a Beneficial Use of Dredge Material (BUDM) project being spearheaded by Cherie O’Brien of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Dept.
      April 8, 2013 Conditions of Approval of Surface Lease for Channel Dredge p. 1 Special Conditions including avoiding disturbing nesting birds from Feb. 15-Sept. 1 p. 3 Map of State Tract 37–Beneficial Use/Habitat Restoration Complex–4.91 acres near Bay Harbor May 2011 Two plantings of native smooth cord grass and mangrove were held February 26 and March 8th. Birds are nesting so please stay off the island. Final reports Donation Recognition Followup: Contact Jill Seay (281-487-6192) to pick up your prints. Still, we would greatly appreciate your making an additional donation. This has been a big project over several years. We appreciate your donations and thank you for your support. Betsy Redfield, Project Coordinator January 2011A meeting was held with Gahagan & Bryant Associates on April 29, 2010 to open bids for construction of the habitat project. The Notice of Award/Contract was signed June 16, 2010 with JND Thomas Co. and a pre-construction meeting was held at the offices of GBA on August 3, 2010. Weekly construction summary reports were provided by GBA summarized below: Sept. 12-18: Mobilization to the site began on Aug. 22, 2010, and notice to proceed was given on Sept. 7. Silt fencing was installed; footprint stakes were installed; geo-tubes were being filled. Sept. 19-25: Filling of geo-tubes continued. Sept. 26-Oct. 2: Channel marker pilings installed; continued filling of geo-tubes. Oct. 3-9: Dredge work continued with discharge to island pad. Oct. 10-16: Dredge work continued with discharge to island and geo-tubes. Oct. 17-23: Installation and filling of geo-tubes near completion. Oct. 25-31: Discharge continued on the pad. Nov. 1-7: Channel depth being worked. Nov. 8-14: Discharge continues to pad. Nov. 15-21: Not working due to bad weather. Nov. 28-Dec. 4: Discharge restarted and continued to pad. Dec. 5-Dec. 11: Island restoration is to grade. Areas continue to be filled. Dec. 19-25: Deficiencies addressed Dec. 12-18. Work will be done. For construction information, the project was declared complete as of Dec. 21, 2010. An inspection committee from Galveston Bay Foundation toured the site on Tuesday, Jan. 11, and gave reports of some repairs and completion work to be done. This is being address with the engineers and contractor. GBA will make sure all work is completed before releasing the contractor. Galveston Bay Foundation and US Fish & Wildlife Services will make arrangements to plant native vegetation on the island, which will include many residents and neighboring volunteers and the Boy Scouts of America. Sample vegetation has been planted for testing. At the time of the planting, Bay Harbor will hold a fund raiser to prepare for monitoring and continued expenses. Betsy Redfield, Project Coordinator Donations: Residents’ donations for future maintenance |
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Bay Harbor Improvement Association
Improving the Communities of Bay Harbor, Bahia Azul, Bahia Azul-Orner, & Bee Gee Bay