Deer Park Community Advisory Council (DPCAC) members were joined by members of the Houston, Seashore, and Baytown Community Advisory Panels for an update in late October on the Coastal Texas Protection and Restoration Study from the Army Corps of Engineers and the Texas General Land Office. The federal and state agencies are studying the feasibility of construction projects, like barriers, to manage risks associated with hurricanes as well as projects to restore ecosystems, which may buffer the impacts of coastal storms. This study does not look for solutions to heavy rains from tropical storms like Harvey and Imelda, though it does consider the impact of inland flooding on barriers like high dunes and surge gates. A required Environmental Impact Assessment is looking at the costs and benefits of the options and must balance “engineering soundness, environmental acceptability, and economic justification.”

An initial proposal was modified after public review and comment. A second version of the plan will be released for public review and comment before it is finalized in 2021. The presentation to DPCAC has been posted at www.deerparkcac.org. The Corps and the General Land Office are providing information for the public in formal hearings and informal open houses as well as social media, email, newsletters and a community working group. Details may be found at www.coastalstudy.texas.gov as well as on Facebook and Twitter @coastaltxstudy