GIWW, Brazos River Floodgates, Colorado River Locks Chief's Report Signed

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Galveston District
Published Oct. 24, 2019
Lt. Gen. Todd T. Semonite, USACE Commanding General and 54th U.S. Army Chief of Engineers, yesterday signed the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway (GIWW) Brazos River Floodgates and Colorado River Locks Chief's Report.

Lt. Gen. Todd T. Semonite, USACE Commanding General and 54th U.S. Army Chief of Engineers, yesterday signed the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway (GIWW) Brazos River Floodgates and Colorado River Locks Chief's Report. Addressing the navigation issues in the region is not only significant to Texas residents and workers but the nation because of the various types of commodities that are shipped and transported along the GIWW to the country’s interior. The signing of the report progresses the project to Congress for authorization. More information on this project from the Galveston District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, can be found here: https://go.usa.gov/xp3sF

Lt. Gen. Todd T. Semonite, USACE Commanding General and 54th U.S. Army Chief of Engineers, yesterday signed the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway (GIWW) Brazos River Floodgates and Colorado River Locks Chief's Report.

Lt. Gen. Todd T. Semonite, USACE Commanding General and 54th U.S. Army Chief of Engineers, yesterday signed the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway (GIWW) Brazos River Floodgates and Colorado River Locks Chief's Report. Addressing the navigation issues in the region is not only significant to Texas residents and workers but the nation because of the various types of commodities that are shipped and transported along the GIWW to the country’s interior. The signing of the report progresses the project to Congress for authorization. More information on this project from the Galveston District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, can be found here: https://go.usa.gov/xp3sF

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), Galveston District, received a signed Chief of Engineers Report (Chief’s Report) for the proposed Gulf Intracoastal Waterway (GIWW) Brazos River Floodgates (BRFG) and Colorado River Locks (CRL), Oct. 24, outlining the feasibility study to improve navigation efficiency by selecting a plan that is economically justified and environmentally acceptable to maintain GIWW as a nationally significant waterway system while continuing to provide water and sediment management capability and navigation safety on the GIWW.  

The report, signed by Lt. Gen. Todd T. Semonite, USACE Commanding General and 54th U.S. Army Chief of Engineers, recommends vital project to provide safe and efficient navigation on the nation’s energy coast. 

"I could not be more proud of the work my team has done to get to this signed Chief's Report, said Col. Timothy Vail, USACE Galveston District commander. “It's a great and vital project that when authorized and funded, will do tremendous good in terms of safety and efficiency of one of the most significant transportation corridors in the country, the GIWW."

The Chief’s Report recommends a plan to improve the exiting GIWW inland navigation project at BRFG and CRL structures.  The recommended system plan is comprised of the BRFG and CRL component. 

“We would like to thank our non-federal study partner, the Texas Department of Transportation (TXDOT) who actively participated in the development of the scope, alternative formulation and analysis of alternatives as they pertain to this important project,” said Franchelle Craft Nealy, USACE Galveston project manager.

One of the primary functions of the USACE is to maintain safe, reliable, and efficient waterway systems for the movement of commerce, national security and recreation. 

“The BRFL and CRL were constructed to prevent excessive sedimentation in the GIWW,” said Nealy.  “And minimizing sedimentation continues to a primary objective for the facilities.” 

“The Chief’s Report was submitted to the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works for review. Following review and approval, it will be submitted to Congress for authorization and funding.

“The Corps is encouraged by this signing and is also reminded that this is one step in a long process with an ultimate goal of project construction,” said Nealy.

More information on this project from the Galveston District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, can be found here: https://go.usa.gov/xp3sF.

For more news and information, visit www.swg.usace.army.mil. Find us on Facebook, www.facebook.com/GalvestonDistrict, or follow us on Twitter, www.twitter.com/USACEGalveston.


Contact
Breeana Harris or Francisco Hamm
409-766-3005
swgpao@usace.army.mil
2000 Fort Point Road , Galveston, Texas 77550

Release no. 19-028