USACE Galveston - Planning and Environmental Branch

NEWSROOM

WHO WE ARE

MISSIONS

HISTORY

HOME

Brazos Island Harbor

Brazos Island Harbor Channel Improvement Project

Feasibility Study

BACKGROUND INFORMATION

The Port of Brownsville is located on the south Texas coast near the U.S. - Mexican border (Figure 1). The project consists of enlarging the existing Brownsville Ship Channel by deepening the entrance and jetty channel, the lower section of the main channel to a depth of up to 55 feet and the upper section of the main channel and turning basin to a depth of up to 45 feet. The primary purpose of the feasibility study is navigation.

Figure 1. Location Map

The Port of Brownsville is the only deep draft port available to the industry along the U.S. – Mexico border. Brownsville is primarily a bulk commodity port covering both liquid and dry cargo handling. Current vessel sizes associated with the increased use of container vessels has resulted in inefficient utilization of the Port of Brownsville. The increased traffic is a direct result of NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement) in that a majority of the increased commodity traffic is to meet industrial needs in Mexico.

In 2002, Brownsville was the nation’s second largest in-transit harbor by volume. Total tonnage on the Brazos Island Harbor increased from 1,829,000 tons in 1992 to 4,741,000 tons in 2002; a difference of 2,912,000 tons. In addition to traditional vessel traffic, there is a need for increased channel dimensions in order to serve offshore rigs presently operating in the U.S. Gulf Coast. The operational draft of the newer rigs ranges from 45 to 63 feet.

The most recent deepening was authorized by the Water Resources Development Act of 1986. Project construction was completed in 1996. The proposed study will address the feasibility of deepening the entrance and jetty channel (2 miles) to up to 55 feet, deepen the lower 9 miles of main channel to up to 55 feet and deepen the upper 7 miles of main channel and turning basin to up to 45 feet.

The study area encompasses the entire Brazos Island Harbor and surrounding region. The entrance channel is located offshore of Cameron County, Texas, in the Gulf of Mexico and ends at the Port of Brownsville Main Harbor in the City of Brownsville. The existing channel is 42- feet deep (plus 2-feet over-depth) by 300-feet wide entrance channel for a distance of 2.5 miles converging to a natural water depth of 44-feet in the Gulf of Mexico; a 42-feet deep by 250-feet wide by 14.8 miles long channel within the inland segment of the waterway; a 42-feet deep by widths varying from 325 to 400 feet at the turning basin for a length of 5,200 feet; and the final segment of the Brownsville Turning Basin at a depth of 36 feet and a width of 1,200 feet.

STUDY PROCESS

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) study process involves a reconnaissance phase and a feasibility phase. The one-year reconnaissance phase concluded that there is a Federal interest in pursuing the proposed project and recommended a more detailed, feasibility-level review of the project. The feasibility study was initiated in June 2006 and will determine the most cost-effective alternative for improving the channel while protecting the Nation’s environment. The product of the feasibility phase will be a report that presents a recommendation of an economically-justified solution and addresses the environmental impacts of the proposed project.

The feasibility study will also investigate potential restoration opportunities of over 6500 acres of tidal marsh habitats, as well as brush habitat with the Bahia Grande in collaboration with federal and state agencies. Marsh restoration associated would provide feeding, breeding, and wintering habitat for colonial and migratory water birds and provide connective habitat to the Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge.

A Public Scoping Meeting was held in Brownsville, Texas on January 31, 2007. Public input was requested concerning:

        1) Economic development opportunities,

        2) Operational constraints associated with the Brownsville Ship Channel,

        3) Comments associated with current dredged material placement practices,

        4) Opportunities for environmental restoration, and

        5) Any other project-related comments with the proposed channel improvement project.

A copy of the proceedings from the Public Scoping Meeting are available to the public on the Brazos Island Harbor Project website (www.swg.usace.army.mil). Click on “Projects,” then click on “Listings from A to Z,” and select “Brazos Island Harbor.”

Links

          Project Review Plan (PRP)

         January 2007 Public Meeting

This is an official US Government webpage. This webpage is intended to provide information of general interest to the public. The information contained herein is accurate as of the date of publication.

Need More Information?

Galveston District Public Affairs Office

Disclaimer
Privacy and Security Notice

Updated: April 30, 2007

Brazos Island Harbor Channel Improvement Project Feasibility Study BACKGROUND INFORMATION The Port of Brownsville is located on the south Texas coast near the U.S. - Mexican border (Figure 1). The project consists of enlarging the existing Brownsville Ship Channel by deepening the entrance and jetty channel, the lower section of the main channel to a depth of up to 55 feet and the upper section of the main channel and turning basin to a depth of up to 45 feet. The primary purpose of the feasibility study is navigation. Figure 1. Location Map The Port of Brownsville is the only deep draft port available to the industry along the U.S. – Mexico border. Brownsville is primarily a bulk commodity port covering both liquid and dry cargo handling. Current vessel sizes associated with the increased use of container vessels has resulted in inefficient utilization of the Port of Brownsville. The increased traffic is a direct result of NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement) in that a majority of the increased commodity traffic is to meet industrial needs in Mexico. In 2002, Brownsville was the nation’s second largest in-transit harbor by volume. Total tonnage on the Brazos Island Harbor increased from 1,829,000 tons in 1992 to 4,741,000 tons in 2002; a difference of 2,912,000 tons. In addition to traditional vessel traffic, there is a need for increased channel dimensions in order to serve offshore rigs presently operating in the U.S. Gulf Coast. The operational draft of the newer rigs ranges from 45 to 63 feet. The most recent deepening was authorized by the Water Resources Development Act of 1986. Project construction was completed in 1996. The proposed study will address the feasibility of deepening the entrance and jetty channel (2 miles) to up to 55 feet, deepen the lower 9 miles of main channel to up to 55 feet and deepen the upper 7 miles of main channel and turning basin to up to 45 feet. The study area encompasses the entire Brazos Island Harbor and surrounding region. The entrance channel is located offshore of Cameron County, Texas, in the Gulf of Mexico and ends at the Port of Brownsville Main Harbor in the City of Brownsville. The existing channel is 42- feet deep (plus 2-feet over-depth) by 300-feet wide entrance channel for a distance of 2.5 miles converging to a natural water depth of 44-feet in the Gulf of Mexico; a 42-feet deep by 250-feet wide by 14.8 miles long channel within the inland segment of the waterway; a 42-feet deep by widths varying from 325 to 400 feet at the turning basin for a length of 5,200 feet; and the final segment of the Brownsville Turning Basin at a depth of 36 feet and a width of 1,200 feet. STUDY PROCESS The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) study process involves a reconnaissance phase and a feasibility phase. The one-year reconnaissance phase concluded that there is a Federal interest in pursuing the proposed project and recommended a more detailed, feasibility-level review of the project. The feasibility study was initiated in June 2006 and will determine the most cost-effective alternative for improving the channel while protecting the Nation’s environment. The product of the feasibility phase will be a report that presents a recommendation of an economically-justified solution and addresses the environmental impacts of the proposed project. The feasibility study will also investigate potential restoration opportunities of over 6500 acres of tidal marsh habitats, as well as brush habitat with the Bahia Grande in collaboration with federal and state agencies. Marsh restoration associated would provide feeding, breeding, and wintering habitat for colonial and migratory water birds and provide connective habitat to the Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge. A Public Scoping Meeting was held in Brownsville, Texas on January 31, 2007. Public input was requested concerning: 1) Economic development opportunities, 2) Operational constraints associated with the Brownsville Ship Channel, 3) Comments associated with current dredged material placement practices, 4) Opportunities for environmental restoration, and 5) Any other project-related comments with the proposed channel improvement project. A copy of the proceedings from the Public Scoping Meeting are available to the public on the Brazos Island Harbor Project website (www.swg.usace.army.mil). Click on “Projects,” then click on “Listings from A to Z,” and select “Brazos Island Harbor.” Links Project Review Plan (PRP) January 2007 Public Meeting


This is an official US Government webpage. This webpage is intended to provide information of general interest to the public. The information contained herein is accurate as of the date of publication.