BONHAM — Today, the Texas General Land Office (GLO) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) announced the upcoming dates and locations for a series of Public Open Houses on the Coastal Texas Study.

The Coastal Texas Protection & Restoration Feasibility Study, or the Coastal Texas Study, is a comprehensive draft proposal to examine the feasibility of construction projects for coastal storm risk management and ecosystem restoration along the Texas coast.

“Our Texas coastal communities are particularly vulnerable to severe storms and coastal hazards,” Deputy Texas Land Commissioner Mark Havensstated. “With the resources and technology available today to prevent loss of life and storm surge, it is our responsibility to explore feasible ways we can protect the Texas coastline. The General Land Office has worked extensively with the Corps to make this draft study a transparent and open process. We look forward to presenting the community with an updated plan prior to the beginning of the second public comment period.”

"Our strong federal-state partnership has enabled us to work through complex engineering challenges that will result in a plan that would provide protections for the Texas coast from coastal storms,”  U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Galveston District Commander Col. Timothy Vail stated. “Like all of you, the Texas coast is near and dear to my heart, and like you, I am fighting to protect it.  We invite you to come to the open house and see what the team has done so far as we move forward to complete the study and request authorization and funding from Congress to move forward with additional analyses and design of the system.”

The Public Open Houses will provide the public with updates regarding the study process and findings, as well as allow an opportunity for all members of the community to discuss the study with study team representatives, ask questions and address any concerns. The dates and locations are as listed below:

 Saturday, February 8th
1:00 PM – 3:00 PM
High Island High School
2113 6th St, High Island, TX 77623
 
Wednesday, February 12th
6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Galveston Island Convention Center, Grand Ballroom
5600 Seawall Blvd, Galveston, TX 77551
 
Thursday, February 13th
6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
Bay Area Community Center
5002 E NASA Pkwy, Seabrook, TX 77586  

An unprecedented second round of public feedback meetings will begin later this year. For more information, visit the Coastal Texas Study website.