The projects are among 12 in Southeast Texas selected as a part of the 122 "Tier 1” projects named in the Texas General Land Office’s proposed 2023-26 Texas Coastal Resiliency Master Plan.

Beaumont Enterprise
Courtney Pederson, Staff writer
November 07, 2022 at 09:26AM

"The plan is often referred to as the 'Coastal Master Plan' and provides funding guidance for future decisions by natural resource agencies using Deepwater Horizon funds, Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act  funds and other funding such as hurricane disaster relief and private grants," a Jefferson County news release states. "Projects that make the Tier 1 planning stage are considered for funding from 2023-26 among the 102 projects on the Coastal Master Plan list."

The list was given to the Technical Advisory Committee for its final review and consideration, said General Land Office Communications Director for Community Development and Revitalization Brittany Eck.

The committee will then submit the final proposal to the General Land Office, which will publish the final plan in January "or soon after," Eck said.

"Jefferson County Judge Jeff Branick is a strong partner for the General Land Office in the Texas Coastal Resiliency Master Plan process," Eck said. "Strong local partners are pivotal in driving projects forward when funding becomes available."

Branick, who also serves on a regional flood planning stakeholder group, said the projects being included in the proposed plan is important since himself and other Southeast Texas have been making the case for the area.

"We've been pretty proactive and bringing the importance of our costal marshes to the attention the General Land Office working in conjunction with Texas Commission on Environmental Quality and Texas Parks and Wildlife," Branick said. "Our marsh is the largest cheniere marsh in the state of Texas in Jefferson County, and it's worthy of protection for that purpose. It's worthy of protection because of its being a nursery for seafood, and we have the second most valuable catch on the Texas Gulf Coast in Jefferson County."

Similarly to Branick, Lamar University Center for Resiliency Director Liv Haschelbach said if these projects are chosen, it assists in the coastal resiliency of Southeast Texas.

Haschelbach said the projects are important because Southeast Texas is such a vital, important area of the state.

"A lot of these projects are combining everything we can get from how we know how to build and thrive our communities but also how we not only appreciate natur e,we can use nature to better the environment for us and our communities," Haschelbach said.

Big Thicket National Heritage Trust President Ellen Buchanan said Southeast Texans should care about these projects being selected because humans rely on water to survive.

"Water sustains us and it sustains our economic sustainability," Buchanan said. "We want to sustain our economic growth and so water is the key. We're very lucky over here in southeast Texas to have this water, our marshes. our bays, our estuaries, keeping this whole cycle of life going. It all starts with water."

According to the news release, projects that make the Tier 1 planning stage are considered for funding.

"Funding for the twelve new or continued Jefferson County projects listed in the 2023-26 draft Coastal Master Plan would build upon over $200 million already invested to conserve Jefferson County’s coastal marshes," the release states.

The Jefferson County projects included in the proposal are:

• North Pleasure Island Shoreline Protection & Restoration
• J.D. Murphree Wildlife Management Area Shoreline Protection
• Texas Bayou Water Control Structure
• Texas Point NWR Shoreline Protection Sabine Neches Waterway and Oyster Habitat Creation
• Texas Point NWR Beneficial Use of Dredge Material
• Texas Point NWR Beach Nourishment Project
• McFaddin NWR Willow Lake Beneficial Use of Dredge Material
• McFaddin NWR Gulf Shoreline Stabilization
• Port Arthur Hurricane Flood Protection Levee
• Keith Lake Fish Pass and Baffle Repairs and Upgrades
• Southeast Texas Flood Coordination Study - Regional Flood Sensor System
• Neches River Forested Floodplain 

courtney.pedersen@beaumontenterprise.com

twitter.com/courtpede