If you sail on Galveston Bay, this may be of interest.
Public comments needed
From HYC:
"As some of you may already be aware, the Port of Houston Authority has applied for a permit from the Corps of Engineers to widen and deepen the Bayport Channel. While the dredging project itself should have little impact on the Club, one potential plan for disposal of the resulting dredge material is of major concern to the Club. The Port is proposing in its permit application one option to dispose of all of the dredge material in a new, very large dredge island west of the Houston ship channel and north of HYC. The island would initially be below water level, with the ability to raise it higher in future years. The Port is also including an option in its permit application to dispose of the dredge material in existing disposal cells on the east side of Atkinson's Island.
The immediate past and current HYC Flag have been meeting with the Port for nearly a year to express our opposition to any dredge material disposal west of the ship channel in the Upper Galveston Bay area. We believe that the island would represent a significant hazard to navigation in an area of the Bay heavily used by recreational boaters, could damage a world-class sailboat racing venue, and would take away a public asset from all boaters in the Galveston Bay area. There would be other safety, environmental, and community impacts as well that HYC and other affected parties are concerned about.
The HYC Flag just found out two days ago that the Public Notice has been published. Public comments are due on June 4, although the Club and other interested parties are requesting an extension from the Corps and TCEQ for the comment period. The Public Notice can be found at http://www.swg.usace.army.mil/reg/notice/PN2011-01183.pdf (http://www.swg.usace.army.mil/reg/notice/PN2011-01183.pdf). We encourage all members to submit comments to the Corps and TCEQ. We will send out sample letters shortly if you need some help with the letters.
Be assured that the HYC Flag and Board of Trustees are vigorously opposing the taking of our waters. In addition to continued meetings with the Port, the Flag is meeting with area elected officials, talking to other affected constituencies, and developing a legal and technical strategy for protecting our front yard. But we need your help now as well. In addition to writing letters to the Corps and TCEQ, please contact your elected representatives and ask for their help in preserving the Bay for future generations.
We'll keep you posted as this issue continues to develop."
Sample letters, links at HYC site
http://houstonyachtclub.com/documents/Form_Letter_TCEQ.doc (http://houstonyachtclub.com/documents/Form_Letter_TCEQ.doc)
http://houstonyachtclub.com/documents/Form_Letter_Corps.doc (http://houstonyachtclub.com/documents/Form_Letter_Corps.doc)
GBCA should throw our weight behind this as well....maybe a petition at Rum Race #1? Thoughts?
In the current super conservative, cut everywhere, deregulate everything, privatize all, and go back to the past environment, I doubt that there is much that can be done. In this setting there will never be any focus on maintaining or, heaven forbid, improving recreation environments. Wouldn't that be socialism?
A strong fight against the Bayport Container terminal/Cruise Ship debacle was put forth, but the outcome was never in doubt. Might be better to offer some kind of alternative, but I don't have a clue as to what that might be. Maybe we could get Fertitta to propose to put a pleasure factory on the Island. That might fly but we would have to give him full rights to the new land, remove all restrictions, and cut all his taxes to get him to do it.
While I applaud HYC for the worthwhile effort, my money is on the Port of Houston.
A link to maps of the proposed new marshland/spoilbank:
http://www.swg.usace.army.mil/reg/notice/2011-01183.pdf
(see pages 2 & 6)
The proposed new spoil area could involve roughly a third of the cove between Morgan and Red Bluff. The conceptual feature as shown could force all commercial and recreational traffic into the ship channel.
As swampland bordered by rip-rap, it would be a serious navigational hazard to small craft, in addition to the risks of forcing them into the channel, where they would be forced to deal with large commercial traffic. As an elevated dewatering containment, it could also have significant effects on the hydrology of storm surges (some trade-offs on that, in duration and height along the El Jardin and Shore Acres coasts).
It looks like the CoE chose that site for mostly for economics; it' s close to the dredging and so would cost somewhat less to dump spoils in the new area than to pump across the channel and build up PA-14/15. They might be reluctant to site on the south side of Bayport channel, because of silting-in effects (similar to what happens at North Boater's cut).
It might be possible to tie the CoE up in court for years over the hydrology and hazard concerns, forcing studies, etc, but that could be megabucks in tax-dollars down the tubes too. Maybe it wouldn't take as much to convince them that using the existing spoil areas would be net cheaper and better.
G4B
Wow. That's even dumber then I thought. Methinks dragging my 6.5' keel through that would not be any fun at all.
There's already a huge spoils area just south of the snooze terminal. They could build that up some more and put a luxury hotel on it for the cruise ship traffic!
Oh, Oh, Oh, I like that. A great alternative to another Fartitiaville.
I hate to be cynical, but my money is on Bee?s cynicism. They built the Bayport container terminal without regard for public sentiment and without the necessary infrastructure. Yes there were town hall meetings, petitions and all that, but it was predestination from the get-go. They built the Cruise Terminal without an agreement from any Cruise Line. It has all the modern features of a cruise terminal except a single Cruise Ship. Every road in the area has been demolished over the last two years with traffic for which it was never intended to support and they are just now getting around to building the roads that should serve this facility. They?re betting on the Panamax come and if the Cruise Terminal is any indication of the Port Authority's clairvoyance, I would have cause for concern.
Even if it is a losing battle, I feel HYC should at least try to negociate a dredging of their inner harbor to 10 feet, or possibly breakwall improvements as a trade-off/concession. Hopefully it's a lesson learned after Seabrook and HYC fought Bayport tooth and nail and got nothing.
I don't disagree with HYC continuing the fight, but I'm still cynical. When I was there they fought a valiant but loosing battle to keep Bayport and the smooze terminal out. No luck.
When this goes through, a big part of the North Bay will be off limits to us sail boatees. I plotted a rough estimate of the spoils outer limits on a chart. Its huge and my guess is this is where they will put the markers that outline it. That, of course, assumes that they are even concerned about someone hitting it.
My guess is that the "public" which includes many fishermen, oystermen, shrimpers, and bird watchers will love it. The only good news for some of us is that this will probably force HYC to hold its deep keel boat races South of the Bayport Channel. Unfortunately, that means having to spend more club resources then they should have to.
If anyone wants to see what the proposal looks like on a map, I've plotted the coordinates in a KMZ file. It opens directly in to Google Earth or any other software that handles KMZ files.
http://ytrewq.com/misc/PoH_Bayport_Dredge.kmz (http://ytrewq.com/misc/PoH_Bayport_Dredge.kmz)
It really is a substantial amount of the bay up there!
HYC is ramping up the fight on several fronts. http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?section=news/local&id=8672589
Cynicism is certainly understandable, but there are differences between this fight and Bayport. One encouraging point is that this BU area is just one "option" in their plan. Public opinion isn't going to change their minds. However, given their desired timeline for this and the time required to meet the need for additional studies and information, this could become less of a preferred option.
They have extended the comment period to July 5. Please remember that the only comments they have to consider are ones that are in writing and per their comment guidelines. So, it doesn't matter how many petitions or news stories are done, if the comments don't fit within their bureaucratic little world, ?it will be considered that there are no objections? (their words per the notice).
While the Bayport fight was ugly---I'm still bitter about the packed hearing at the George R. Brown with all the bussed in people to speak up for the PoH---the cruise terminal there is an embarrassing (100 million $) failure for them. Hmmm. why are they building a mud pit in front of their beautiful cruise terminal that they just had to have.
There is a fighting chance yet. Coalitions are forming, lawyers are filing things. Look for an announcement of a June meeting at HYC (date tbd) for information sharing among all groups.
-MW
We can certainly hope HYC prevails. I certainly wish them all the luck in the world. My cynicism is based pretty much on the entire Bayport/Cruise Terminal debacle. I still have my own bad memories of that and I was only involved as a member of HYC.
There is absolutely no question that none of us sailors want this to happen. In fact, I just can't see any reason for them to dump the spoils there. Why not just build up the existing spoil Islands?
I'm sorry... I couldn't resist...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DDYWdABRQIo (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DDYWdABRQIo)
Quote from: lwisehou on May 24, 2012, 10:40:47 AM
HYC is ramping up the fight on several fronts. http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?section=news/local&id=8672589
To the average Joe in Houston, that story came off like a handful of residents and fancy, yacht club richies don't want their playground messed up. The PoH Director dropped all the right words ("we totally understand what the community wants", "we totally understand what the environmental agencies want", "beneficial", etc - That dude has politician written across his forehead). That's what people will hear. HYC is going to have to bring its A-Game if they want to be in this fight.
Wayne Dolcefino ran a story bashing the PoH today: http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?section=news/13_undercover&id=8672576 (http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?section=news/13_undercover&id=8672576). That's the kind of ammo HYC needs. Amp up the citizens against the PoH for wasting their tax dollars and ruining everything they touch. Since this stuff is being reported now, it's a good time to run with it. Maybe he'll do a follow-up.
Take some reporters to the North Cut and let them smell what the spoils pile is cooking. When that proposed "marsh" ends up a few feet above the water line, Shoreacres is going to get a permanent whiff of something funky. I can see it now.. the prevailing S/SE breeze wafting over the new "Turd Island" on its way to cool off the residents ashore. YIKES!
I truly hope they don't dump spoils there. That would be really bad news.
Thanks for the youtube laugh!! Needed that.
The wasting of tax dollars is definitely part of the discussion. I'm glad to see the discussion going on here, bring on the ideas.
-MW
Quote from: O. Lyle on May 24, 2012, 09:50:44 AM
If anyone wants to see what the proposal looks like on a map, I've plotted the coordinates in a KMZ file. It opens directly in to Google Earth or any other software that handles KMZ files.
http://ytrewq.com/misc/PoH_Bayport_Dredge.kmz (http://ytrewq.com/misc/PoH_Bayport_Dredge.kmz)
It really is a substantial amount of the bay up there!
Pretty much what I came up with. Now why in the hell would anyone want to do something like that to the most recreational part of the Bay?
Quote from: Bee on May 24, 2012, 12:50:04 PMPretty much what I came up with. Now why in the hell would anyone want to do something like that to the most recreational part of the Bay?
I hear ya. The money they save by not having to cross the channel to dump can't be
that much. If they looked forward even a few years, they'd realize that the silting and tide erosion maintenance is going to cost far more than whatever savings can be found now.
I wonder if they've done impact statements for tides and surges. At the proposed 3' below MLT, the chop is going to get nasty around that thing. Nothing like pulling out of HYC in to a line of breakers!
Chris,
Could you (or someone) get a screenshot and paste into a .pdf. Not everyone has the ability to process .kmz files.
Quote from: O. Lyle on May 24, 2012, 09:50:44 AM
If anyone wants to see what the proposal looks like on a map, I've plotted the coordinates in a KMZ file. It opens directly in to Google Earth or any other software that handles KMZ files.
http://ytrewq.com/misc/PoH_Bayport_Dredge.kmz (http://ytrewq.com/misc/PoH_Bayport_Dredge.kmz)
It really is a substantial amount of the bay up there!
Here is an attempt to provide a jpg. Supposedly there will be an attachment.
BTW, Google Earth will read the kmz files.
An update from the HYC Flag:
"Thanks to everyone for the letters to the Corps and the TCEQ asking for more time to comment on the Public Notice on the Bayport dredging and spoil disposal project. The Corps has extended the comment period through July 5. We will get you sample letters for the next round of letter writing out soon.
The Port of Houston is hosting a meeting Thursday, May 31st at 6:00 pm at the Port's Administration Building at 12619 Port Road to provide information about the project and answer questions. Keep in mind that this is a Port meeting and we do not know what avenues may be available for expressing our concerns. But if any of you are interested and able, it never hurts to have some HYC members there to ensure our interests are represented.
We are planning to hold a meeting on the topic for HYC members in early June. We will get that date out to you as soon as we have it. In the meantime, members can help by getting the word out about the project and its problems to friends, neighbors, fellow boaters, taxpayers, or anyone else who has a stake in our region's future.
And again, we'll keep you posted as this issue continues to develop."
-MW
If the powers that be are going to fill up the bay, why not make some serious effort to do it in a way that might produce a net benefit? One alternative would be to start building up a protective area of land around HYC. I know HYC would not like the aroma in the beginning but the spoils would eventually create a nice burm around HYC and HYC outlet to give it a bit more protection from IKE like storms in the future. Starting at Sylvan beach, why not extend something like a jetty out into the bay to create a new venue for those who like to fish and crab.
Just think what we could have done with the $100 mil they spent on that damned cruise terminal.
Nice ideas Bee...almost anything would beat what the proposed map shows....
i got keel caught on crab trap there that had stone crabs in it
tell fish and game it will hurt the stone crab fisheries
If Bees map is right, thats a huge area.
Is that dredge just for Bayport Channel or all of nearby HSC or both?
Why not put it on the south side of Bayport channel, or pump it over to the other side of HSC (Atkinson Island/Trinity) like they've been doing.
Whaterver is done, a 10 foot deep protected cove to anchor would be nice, throw on some cement picnic tables, palapa shelter, a couple of palm trees, birdwatching stand, maybe even a beach/dinghy dock...and create another 'island' cruising destination other than Redfish. Sure it would get washed out every couple years but a couple thousand here and there as an ongoing token of goodwill would cover it...
I did not do the map, but the one I did was almost the same. Only a slight difference in the four corners, but just at big. The map says that the area is 411 acres. All you need to remember is that a square mile is 640 acres so this is about 64% of a square mile. Including th on lap I suspect the area to avoid will be about 1 square mile.
A large crescent around HYC and a red fish style island might be OK, but that much crap will still take a lot away from the upper bay.
Just to be clear, the map is Lyle's.
http://www.chron.com/business/article/Port-draws-fire-for-marsh-plan-3597076.php#photo-3005166
An interesting tidbit buried at the bottom of an article about Hobby Airport:
"At her news conference following the city council meeting, Mayor Parker said that she and Harris County officials are considering the replacement of Jim Edmonds as chair of the Port of Houston Authority.
?I appreciate Mr. Edmonds' service,? Parker said. ?I think he?s done yeoman?s work at the port. But, I also believe that it?s a new day and a new opportunity. There is a new director in Len Waterworth and I would certainly like to explore options in who the chairman should be.?"
There will be an open meeting this weekend at HYC at 12:30 Sunday June 10th to discuss the proposed dredging project. Interested parties are encouraged to attend.
The Corps of Engineers has extended the comment period until July 5th. HYC will be generating a template letter that you can use to submit your comments to the agency on the project. Please check back here as this letter should be available within the next week for your use.
bumping to remind everyone about the meeting at HYC this Sunday at 12:30.
The meeting will be informational - about the project, the issues with it, and next steps.
It is open to everyone who is interested in learning more.
I attended the HYC information session yesterday and learned a few things that highten my concern about the proposed spoil disposal plan. The proposed "beneficial use marsh" hiding 3 fit under the water's surface is the MOST EXPENSIVE option according to the HYC leadership. Using the existing spoil islands East of the HSC is the LEAST EXPENSIVE. Given the state of the public's finances why would the Port want to spend considerably more to dispose of the spoil from widening the Bayport channel?
Apparently the long term plan for spoil disposal created in 1995 is proving inadequate; maintaining the HSC is requiring far more spoil disposal area than envisioned in 1995. According to the HYC presentation they believe this proposal is an attempt to "get their nose under the tent" by establishing the first spoil bank of many that will be located up and down the West side of the HSC. The HYC leadership believes this first spoil bank will be followed by many more to the south !
Creating spoil banks of the size shown in the diagrams up and down the west side of the channel will severely impact Galveston bay from a sailing perspective. The various clubs and their members such as GBCA, LYC, TMCA, Seabrook Sailing Association, etc.... need to get involved quickly to help HYC fight this since this impacts all of us. Please check the HYC web site under the "news" section for the addresses, etc... of public officials and agencies whom you can contact to state your point of view.
Dave Christensen
S/V Airborne
The US Army Corps of Engineers is taking public comment on the Dredge Island project until July 5, 2012, after being asked for an extension requested by Houston Yacht Club and others.
As you are now probably aware, the Port of Houston is seeking a permit from the Army Corps of Engineers to use the clay, sand, and silt dredged from the Bayport channel to create a 475-acre marsh alongside the Bayport Ship Channel in Upper Galveston Bay. I encourage all sailors and users of Galveston Bay to use the public comment procedure to let their feelings be known and express any concerns about this proposed use of the Upper Bay. Citizens are able to submit their comments, by regular old-fashioned mail, through the US Army Corps of Engineers
Ms. Denise Sloan
Regulatory Branch, CESWG-PE-RB
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
P.O. Box 1229
Galveston, Texas 77553-1229
Naturally, given the location of the Houston Yacht Club (HYC) and its racing area, HYC is quite concerned about any plans to create a marsh, or spoils island, in this area of the open Bay. But it would be a mistake to believe this is simply a matter of one yacht club being upset because ?its? backyard is being encroached on, or that HYC sailors will have to play elsewhere. The proposed project is monumental and has grave consequences for not only for sailors and those who use the Bay, but for the Bay itself. Many people are not necessarily against the Channel being widened and deepened. They just feel that the dredging byproducts should disposed of properly and in a location where they don?t ruin the Bay.
The notion that the proposed Marsh which would sit alongside the busy Bayport channel in the upper Bay will support a wetland-type habitat or anything environmentally beneficial appears contrary to experience with other spoils areas. The fact that ships? wakes and wash would flow alongside (over) the Marsh further erodes the idea of an ecosystem. Let?s be frank: first and last, this is a matter of finding an expedient place to dump spoils. Right now, there are other already designated areas for dumping spoils that don?t involve filling-in the Bay. This project has been on the public radar for about a month or so now and will have an incalculable effect on the entire Bay, and yet the ecological ramifications are unexplored. For starters, the issue of how a large marsh would affect the ability of Bay water to move back and forth in the event of a hurricane has not been explored. And yet the comment periods end in a month. Perhaps the first comment of any interested citizen should simply be, ?SLOW DOWN! Further study is necessary.?
From a recreational sailor?s and boater's point of view, the idea of converting large portions of the open Bay into area shallow, semi-submerged areas of ?marsh? or spoils bank is offensive, especially if there are few ecological benefits. Worse, the precedent this project would set for further development of the Bay is staggering. Dumping dredge spoils alongside the channels will soon reduce the Bay to little more than a shallow swamp crossed by a deepwater channel. Recreational activities, such as racing, on the Bay will be impeded, and recreational boats will be forced into the ship channels to travel to different parts of the Bay. It?s not just about HYC?it?s about all forms of boating, sailing and fishing on Galveston Bay.
I encourage you to join in echoing concern in making sure that dredge spoils are placed where they belong, and not change recreational boating areas forever. The Corps is taking written public comment on the project until July 5, 2012.
A little late from the "Industry's ground-breaking news provider," but I imagine someone can find out what went down at the meeting this morning...
QuoteHouston Hosts Port Commission Special Meeting
Posted on Jun 11th, 2012
The Port Commission of the Port of Houston Authority will meet in special session today at 9 a.m. in the boardroom of the Port Authority Executive Building,111 East Loop North (Exit 29 off Loop 610) in Houston.
Staff will make a presentation on the current permit application to deepen and widen the Bayport Ship Channel, among other matters on the agenda.
http://www.dredgingtoday.com/2012/06/11/usa-houston-hosts-port-commission-special-meeting/ (http://www.dredgingtoday.com/2012/06/11/usa-houston-hosts-port-commission-special-meeting/)
Port Of Houston Authority Commission Expresses Doubt at meeting today
http://www.guidrynews.com/story.aspx?id=1000043920
Looks like maybe we need write letters to the Port Commissioners and show them this is more than just HYC.
Please note that the cut-off date for the written comments to the Corps of Engineers hs been extended from 6/4 until JULY 5.
In addition to the Army Corps of Engineers, the 6 Port Commissioners for the Port of Houston Authority are the public officials who are the ones who most need to hear from citizens about the Port's proposal to create a spoils bank.
The Port Commissioners may be contacted through the Port of Houston Authority, either aia email: PortCommission@poha.com
or via letter:
c/o Port of Houston Authority
P.O. Box 2562
Houston, Texas 77252-2562
In addition to the Port Of Houston Commissioners, the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) is the State agency with jurisdiction over Texas inland waters, and its officials are charged with protecting the quality of our state?s waters. The TCEQ is the environmental agency for the state, and strives to protect its natural resources, consistent with sustainable economic development.
Placing dredge spoils into semi-submerged portions of the Upper Bay raises issues of sedimentation; namely, will dredge spoils and silt 'stay put,' or will they migrate outside the dumping area and adversely affect fish, oysters, and marine life, and change the ecology of the Upper Bay?
TCEQ needs to hear from concerned citizens. Further info about TCEQ is available at their website, and their mailing address is
TCEQ
P.O. Box 13087
Austin, TX 78711-3087
Quote from: JListon on June 12, 2012, 11:17:22 AM
Please note that the cut-off date for the written comments to the Corps of Engineers hs been extended from 6/4 until JULY 5.
In addition to the Army Corps of Engineers, the 6 Port Commissioners for the Port of Houston Authority are the public officials who are the ones who most need to hear from citizens about the Port's proposal to create a spoils bank.
The Port Commissioners may be contacted through the Port of Houston Authority, either aia email: PortCommission@poha.com
or via letter:
c/o Port of Houston Authority
P.O. Box 2562
Houston, Texas 77252-2562
I sent my email!
Website for all the contact information and action items needed: http://ourgalvestonbay.com/
Please share it with your friends and the whole community. This is not just a sailors' issue.
Contact me for an email that you can share with your neighborhoods, friends, colleagues . . . . sailmom@gmail.com
1. This is the most expensive, wasteful option with more costs that aren't even listed.
2. This is a totally untested experiment and an environmental disaster
3. This is OUR GALVESTON BAY
We MUST let the Port Commissioners know that we don't want this, because they are being told otherwise.
Also to echo what Dave said above, there isn't an adequate long term plan. I heard the same thing at the HYC meeting - that if they manage to get this approved, they may try to create more spoil banks down the west side of the channel.
We need to voice a lot of concern now to show the port that the community doesn't want them creating these west of the channel. And we need to show that it is more than just HYC members that are opposed to it.
If we can raise a big stink with them now, it may prevent them from proposing this type of thing further south in the bay.
This is not a good address: PortCommission@poha.com. My email came back rejected. I guess that's one way of not getting any opposing comments!
Is there anyway to get the email addresses of these idiots? Flooding them with emails might send a resounding note.
I found this contact info at http://www.deepeningportofhouston.com/contact.html
Contact:
Port of Houston Authority
Mark Vincent
deepeningportofhouston@poha.com
Bee - Googling the Commissioners names with @poha.com turns up 2 of the commissioners emails.
Leonard D. Waterworth: lwaterworth@poha.com
James T. Edmonds: jedmonds@poha.com
Charles - if you have your email ready, maybe you can try those addresses too?
If you have your email handy, try the same format for the other names and report back. ;)
The other commissioners:
Steve Phelps
Jim Fonteno
Kase L. Lawal
Jimmy A. Burke
Janiece M. Longoria
Elyse Lanier
My email to "deepeningportofhouston@poha.com" seems to have gone through. I also sent it to the above mentioned two commissioners.
More great information, sorry if this was posted before
http://ourgalvestonbay.com/ (http://ourgalvestonbay.com/)
We made the front page of Sailing Anarchy. Check it out.
That is great to see it up on Anarchy! Now if we can get some of those guys to email/write letters too.
Some new news on http://ourgalvestonbay.com/news/
La Porte and Shore Acres City Councils both come out against the proposed BU Marsh.
Any Seabrook residents available to go to tonight's meeting to urge the same thing?
Quote from: Bee on June 13, 2012, 09:10:40 AM
We made the front page of Sailing Anarchy. Check it out.
Awesome!
Form Letters to the Corps and TCEQ are ready!
They have a couple of sections where you can personalize the letter. Please add some of your own comments - personalized letters will carry more weight with the Corps than a form letter.
You can find them on the Take Action page: http://ourgalvestonbay.com/take-action/
Happy Letter Writing everyone!
Where is the Galveston Bay Foundation on this plan?
I have received a reply to my email from Mr. Waterworth, one of the commissioners. At least, they are getting our emails.
"Mr. Broaddus,
Thank you for your e-mail.. I have forwarded your e-mail to Mark Vincent who is the Program Manager of this Project. Drop me a note if you have not receive a response.. Thank you for your E-mail.. Len "
The Galveston Bay Foundation is also opposed to the placement of the BU Marsh.
There is now a form letter for the Port Commissioners on ourgalvestonbay.com to help. Contacting them is the most important action at this point. This will go down as the next cruise terminal, millions wasted and THEIR responsibility.
Thanks for those letters sent so far!!
Houston Chronicle on 3/13:
http://www.chron.com/default/article/Yacht-club-disputes-role-in-port-proposal-3632570.php (http://www.chron.com/default/article/Yacht-club-disputes-role-in-port-proposal-3632570.php)
Updates:
Find additional information on ourgalvestonbay.com including support from Sen. Jackson, Reps. Davis, Smith, and Taylor.
There are local council meetings happening tonight and tomorrow. Several have resolutions against this dredge disposal option on their agenda. Tomorrow morning at 9, the Port of Houston Commissioners are meeting, and this project is item #1 on the agenda. Attend any and all! Speak! times and places are on ourgalvestonbay.com To the Port, this particular "marsh" is phase one; this would set a precedent for open water disposal throughout the bay.
AND, We have added a page to the site for local organizations, businesses, community groups to add their voice to the list of those opposed. There is frighteningly limited non-sailor awareness in the communities that this option is in the works or what the real effects would be throughout the community, not just for the people who use the bay for business or pleasure. Real estate, service industries, commercial fishing and shrimping, including oysters, recreational tourism, and all recreational boating businesses would be affected.
If you have a business or are part of any organization opposed to this, please let us add you to this list. AND share this with your neighbors and connections in the community.
sailmom@gmail.com
Update from HYC:
Thanks to everyone who has already written letters and help spread the word on this important issue facing HYC and Galveston Bay. The swell of opposition to dredge spoil disposal in Upper Galveston Bay is growing, and progress is being made with the Port Commission and other officials who can help prevent this travesty on our Bay.
The comment period deadline is approaching and we need to make sure the Corps and the TCEQ understand the magnitude of the opposition. While the comment deadline is July 5, remember the July 4 holiday and get your letters in early.
Please, this week we need each of you to:
Write letters to the Corps and TCEQ expressing your concerns. Please try to personalize your letter as much as possible so that the Corps and TCEQ understand the personal stake each of us has in this project.
Send a copy of your Corps/TCEQ letter to the Port Commissioners or write them a special letter asking them to eliminate dredge spoil disposal in Upper Galveston Bay from the Port of Houston's Bayport dredging project. The Port Commissioners can solve this problem.
Keeping spreading the word to friends, neighbors, fellow boaters, and other concerned citizens about this issue and how they can help.
Sample letters, as well as additional background materials, can be found at houstonyachtclub.com (OurClub/News page) and ourgalvestonbay.com. We'll keep you posted as this issue continues to develop.
Regarding an earlier question about Galveston Bay Foundation's position, they have issued a statement:
http://galvbay.org/index.html
In order to make the July 5th deadline to send hard-copy letters to the Corps, today is really the best day to mail these out. This is a 5-minute task if you just use the form letter here: http://ourgalvestonbay.com/ There are a few places to personalize the message, but it won't take long.
Thanks, everyone for all your help in getting the word out in the local community. There are sure signs of progress among the Port Commissioners, but they have stated that they will see what the comments collected by Corps (our letters due on the 5th) have to say before making a call.
Today is the last day to send your comments to the USACE, they just have to be postmarked by the end of the day or they can be faxed. Details are on the ourgalvestonbay.com site.
Newly posted is the full set of HYC's comments to the USACE and the TCEQ. Exhibit 4 shows how the sailing areas could still be fit in with the dredge spoils. However, 1.) the study area in the permit is for the whole trapazoid shape, not the little triangle in the corner that is "conceptual" and 2.) this would set the precident for similar areas to the south of the Bayport flare.
Also posted are some interesting 'track changes' we found from the FOIA requests. The Port didn't even call it a "marsh" in their draft, it was a "submerged berm". The term "Marsh" was provided by the Corps, our impartial governement permitting agency.
Thanks for the updates! Did the right thing. Sent my letter. I hope everyone has done the same. You can still sneak in a fax last minute. 409-766-6301
Keep us informed sailmom
Yeah, I blasted my letter in as well, but cynical Old Phart, does not think it will mater. These guys are intent on destroying the bay in the guise of greening the planet. Anything else would be socialist. Nothing we can do.
It would appear that the environmentalists are against the project, so that is a powerful group to get around. At Ft. Hood, a few years ago, the environmentalists made the Army stop shooting in certain parts of Ft. Hood because they were disturbing the nesting sites of some obscure bird that likes to nest in cedar trees! You never know!
I received a blah, blah, blah, blah, letter from the Army AKA Denise Sloan today.
I now know that a public hearing has not been scheduled.
Ain't that wonderful?
Ya, shook my ceiling fan too. yay tree-huggers (uh, did i just say that?)
Quote from: Charles on July 06, 2012, 12:03:29 PM
It would appear that the environmentalists are against the project, so that is a powerful group to get around. At Ft. Hood, a few years ago, the environmentalists made the Army stop shooting in certain parts of Ft. Hood because they were disturbing the nesting sites of some obscure bird that likes to nest in cedar trees! You never know!
Maybe we need to carry birds on our boats!
Update from HYC:
Just a quick update on the dredge disposal proposal under consideration by the Port of Houston and the US Army Corps of Engineers. As of July 24th the Port of Houston has not received a complete file of the comments submitted to the Corps by the July 5th deadline. Upon receiving and reviewing the comments the Port Staff will be preparing a recommendation on the path forward to the Port Commission. It is likely that this recommendation will be on the Port Commission agenda at the regular August 28th meeting. As I have previously reported, we are optimistic that the recommendation will be to eliminate the new disposal location out of the permit application and the Port will focus on the existing permit areas. In the meantime the Port Commission continues to receive comments from interested parties. The committee we have in place continues its work in raising awareness with elected officials and other key stakeholders. More information can be found at www.ourgalvestonbay.com.
August 15 - 1:30 - POHA Board Room!! Please attend!
The POHA Commission is planning a workshop, or special meeting, where the details of the dredging will be discussed. This is open to the public.
Port of Houston Authority Executive Office Building, 111 East Loop North
I just saw a post on Facebook from Pat Gibson saying that POHA has withdrawn the "BU Marsh" option!!!
Some good news!
Big Thanks to everyone who sent letters and emails!
POHA withdraws ?BU Marsh? as a disposal option
The Port Commission, at its August 15, 2012 meeting, direct the withdrawal of DMP Alternative 2, New Beneficial Use Marsh, as a disposal alternative pursuant to United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Permit Application SWG-2011-01183 for Bayport Ship Channel (BSC) improvements, authorize the Executive Director to respond to USACE and public comments to such application consistently with such direction, and further authorize the Executive Director to do any and all things in his opinion reasonable or necessary to give effect to the foregoing.
more details at: http://ourgalvestonbay.com/2012/08/15/poha-withdraws-bu-marsh-as-a-disposal-option/
Wow! This is GREAT news!! :D Thanks to everyone who took the time to make this happen!
One more email please!!
http://ourgalvestonbay.com/take-action/
The Guidry news article covering the meeting includes full audio of the discussion. One commissioner proposed that they pass a resolution that would prevent some variation of this proposal from appearing in the future, but the full panel was reluctant to commit to that extent. Please send, and ask your friends to send, one more email to thank them and to ask that a future resolution be considered.
The email template makes this a 2-minute task!
Thank you so much *everyone* for helping make this happen.
on ABC news: http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?section=news/local&id=8775328