Update of Gulf Coast Critical Erosion Rates

Summary

The University of Texas, Bureau of Economic Geology (BEG), will determine the most recent long-term rates of shoreline change along the Gulf of Mexico shoreline of Texas by comparing previously determined past shoreline positions with positions interpreted from the most recent suitable aerial photographs available at the time the study. Preference will be given to coast-wide photography acquired before Hurricane Ike struck the upper Texas coast in September 2008 to preclude the results being skewed by unusual post-storm shoreline position. New shoreline position and change-rate data will be integrated into the GIS-based server for ready access by individuals and agencies, and a report summarizing most recent shoreline changes and possible causes of trends and changes in trends will be published to increase the value of the data to the general, regulatory, and scientific community.