AUSTIN — Today, Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham, M.D. announced the approval of Coastal Erosion Planning & Response Act (CEPRA) funding for the West Galveston Beach Nourishment project. The West Galveston Island Property Owners Association, Park Board of Trustees of the City of Galveston, Galveston Regional Chambers of Commerce, Texas American Shore and Beach Preservation Association, Visit Galveston, Galveston Economic Development Partnership, Mayor Craig Brown, and Representative Terri Leo-Wilson played pivotal roles in securing this funding.

"As Land Commissioner and as a Texan who spent over a decade living on Galveston Island along our beautiful coast, caring for Texas beaches is one of my top priorities," said Commissioner Buckingham. "By restoring the shoreline for the benefit of recreation and habitat building as well as preserving the primary evacuation route for West Galveston, this project supports the needs of citizens and wildlife that call this part of Texas' coast home."

The West Galveston Beach Nourishment project seeks to:

• Renourish 28,680 linear feet of Gulf-facing shoreline, increasing recreational benefits for citizens and visitors
• Restore habitat for native and transient species
• Safeguard the primary evacuation route for West Galveston
• Mitigate down drift erosion on West Galveston Island

With these focused goals, this project sets an example for the beneficial use of CEPRA funds for economic and coastal resilience benefits.

The CEPRA Program helps communities across the coast implement coastal erosion response projects and related studies to understand and reduce coastal erosion as it remains a threat to public beaches, natural resources, coastal development, public infrastructure, and public and private property.