City of Port Lavaca Harbor of Refuge Phase 1

Project Description

This project will reduce erosion on public infrastructure, stabilize existing shorelines, increase protection of existing wetlands, and create additional wetlands. This project will eliminate erosion along 5750 ft of public shoreline and provide the opportunity to create up to 30 acres of new wetlands through beneficial use of dredged material. The proposed shoreline stabilization for this area will include the installation of an ACBM revetement along the northern shoreline of the area and living shoreline breakwaters along the southern, marsh edge shoreline. The ACBM revetment will be approximately 1,400 feet in length and the living shoreline breakwaters will be approximately 400 ft in length. Implementation of the ACBM will stabilize the shoreline from further erosion, increase the resiliency of the area when subjected to storms, and cease landfill debris from being exposed or entering the harbor waters as a result of shoreline erosion. The living shoreline will enhance the existing wetlands by reducing shoreline erosion and provide additional ecosystem by promoting wetland vegetation growth. The second shoreline area of the project is located east of the harbor along the Lavaca Bay shoreline, and is known as the Harbor of Refuge Peninsula. This peninsula provides protection to the harbor from wind driven waves in Lavaca Bay. The wave exposure has resulted in shoreline erosion for this area at a rate of 6.7 ft/yr. The shoreline stabilization measures for this area would incorporate approximately 1,900 feet of attached/offshore breakwaters and approximately 2,100 feet of shoreline protection using reinforced vegetated slopes. The third shoreline area for this project is located south of the harbor entrance, facing Lavaca Bay, and is known as the Harbor Southern Shoreline. These wetlands help protect the harbor from wind driven waves in Lavaca Bay. Currently this shoreline region shows erosion rates of 6.3 ft/yr and as a result is close to breaching in a critical area that would expose the wetlands within the harbor along the southern shoreline and the harbor itself to waves in Port Lavaca. The proposed living shoreline measures for this area would include 1,850 ft offshore breakwaters to decrease the wave energy reaching the shoreline and mitigate further erosion.