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Status of Hurricane Surge Suppression

Status of Hurricane Surge Suppression. Scott A. Jones Environmental Policy & Outreach Galveston Bay Foundation. Galveston Bay Foundation. Mission: To preserve, protect, and enhance the natural resources of Galveston Bay and its tributaries for present users and for posterity.

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Status of Hurricane Surge Suppression

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  1. Status of Hurricane Surge Suppression Scott A. Jones Environmental Policy & Outreach Galveston Bay Foundation

  2. Galveston Bay Foundation Mission:To preserve, protect, and enhance the natural resources of Galveston Bay and its tributaries for present users and for posterity. Four target areas: Advocacy Education Conservation Research

  3. Hurricane Ike – 9/13/08 • Galvanized local efforts to address storm surges. • Revealed vulnerabilities of immediate coastal and bay communities and HSC industries. • But this is nothing new… NOAA

  4. History of Storms and Responses • 1900 Storm leads to Galveston Seawall - authorized by Texas legislature in 1901. • First segment completed in 1904. Last segment extended seawall to 99th Street in 1963. • Texas City levee – authorized by USACE in 1958. Galveston and Texas History Center – Rosenberg Library Halff Associates

  5. Upper Texas Coast…Sea Level Rise (SLR) • Background or natural sea level rise. • In geological time scale, we are coming out of last ice age. • Factor in movement of landmass and you have relative seal level rise (RSLR). NASA JSC

  6. Subsidence =Accelerated RSLR Data source: HGCSD 2008; TWDB 2008

  7. Subsidence Burnet Bay

  8. Location

  9. Shoreline Changes Beach/Dune Profile Translation Gibeaut, UT BEG, 2007

  10. Climate Change • Accelerated sea level rise with global warming. Source: Hayhoe & Farley, A Climate for Change (2009)

  11. So here we are… • Retreating beaches… • Eroding shorelines...

  12. Response to Ike -Ike Dike Concept - 2008 • Bill Merrell, TAMUG. • Dike from High Island to Freeport. • No firm plans for GBF to comment upon.

  13. Response to Ike -Ike Dike Concept • Costs to build? • Costs to acquire land? • Costs to maintain? • Exactly where – FM 3005? Seawall?

  14. Concerns with Ike Dike • Sufficient sediment budget? • Sea level rise and new shoreline. • Will FM 3005 Ike Dike become the new seawall?

  15. Concerns with Ike Dike • Direct impacts to habitat. • Indirect impacts to habitat. • Changes to bay circulation. • “Green light” to runaway development?

  16. Gulf Coast Community Protection & Recovery District - 2010 • Harris • Galveston • Brazoria • Chambers • Orange • Jefferson Guidry News Service, 2010

  17. SSPEED Center – Rice University – est. 2007 Severe Storm Prediction, Education, and Evacuation from Disasters • http://hydrology.rice.edu/sspeed/

  18. http://hydrology.rice.edu/sspeed/downloads/SSPEED_Interim_Report_2010.pdfhttp://hydrology.rice.edu/sspeed/downloads/SSPEED_Interim_Report_2010.pdf

  19. SSPEED Center – Ike Dike and Alternatives “A number of structural and non-structural alternatives exist that offer varying levels of protection…from hurricane surge flooding, rainfall and wind. A thorough examination and comparison of the economic costs, environmental impacts, social hazards and overall reliability and effectiveness of these alternatives should be completed before any final selections.” -Executive Summary, Learning the Lessons of Hurricane Ike, SSPEED Center, May 2010

  20. SSPEED Center – Ike Dike and Alternatives “In studies conducted in Florida and Texas, non-structural alternatives have been 9. found to be consistently more effective in reducing flood damage than structural control measures. As such, they are being evaluated as an alternative to traditional structural options.” -Executive Summary, Learning the Lessons of Hurricane Ike, SSPEED Center, May 2010

  21. SSPEED Center – Structural and Non-Structural Alternatives • Ike Dike • Zone Specific Levee Solution • Land-Use Controls • Natural Surge Protection - Land Acquisition and Conservation Easements • Buffer Zones • Building Elevations • Building Codes • Evacuation Planning and Improvement

  22. In the meantime, let’s keep doing some things… • Habitat restoration • Habitat conservation: preserves and easements.

  23. What are the Benefits of Habitat Preservation and Restoration? • Habitat for Fish and Wildlife • Stabilizes Eroding Shorelines and Provides Flood Protection • Improves Water Quality

  24. and surge suppression…

  25. Join the GBF team as an individual or corporate member Volunteer with GBF! www.galvbay.org

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