CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas -- The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Galveston District (SWG) and the Port of Corpus Christi Authority celebrated the completion of their Corpus Christi Ship Channel Improvement Project (CCSCIP) with a ribbon cutting ceremony, June 2, 2025.
The project, which began in 2019, improved approximately 36 miles of channel, deepening it from 47 to 54 feet and widening it from 400 to 530 feet.
About five million cubic yards of dredged material from the project went into restoring marshes in the Corpus Christi and Nueces bays.
The overall channel improvement project will combat erosion within the channel by providing 395 acres of sacrificial erosion protection along with the construction of a 2,000-foot breakwater—to tie into a currently planned 4,000-foot breakwater—in the Nueces Delta.
“This project was a successful endeavor that highlights what can be accomplished when the ports and federal agencies work together,” said Harmon Brown, the USACE project manager overseeing the CCSCIP. “The beneficial use sites were the result of close cooperation with local non-government organizations and USACE to achieve ecosystem restoration on a scale that will reap real benefits for years to come.”
“This accomplishment is only possible because of the steadfast support and cooperation of our non-federal partner, the Port of Corpus Christi,” said Col. Rhett Blackmon, the Galveston District’s commander. “Along with the port, stakeholders like the Texas General Land Office and the Coastal Bend and Estuaries Program advocate for the communities we serve. In collaboration, we were able to deliver one of the largest beneficial use projects in the history of our district. So on top of an economic benefit to the Texas economy and global trade, this project produced environmental benefits by creating or nourishing 260 acres of marshland here in the Coastal Bend.”
“My fellow commissioners and I are grateful to the administrations and Congressional delegations who supported this initiative, as well as the Port of Corpus Christi staff—past and present—who worked diligently to make this vision a reality. The Corpus Christi Ship Channel Improvement Project unlocks a new era of economic growth for both the Coastal Bend and the nation,” said David Engel, Port of Corpus Christi Commission chairman. “This commitment represents what can be achieved when we work toward a common goal: driving prosperity at home and strengthening America’s leadership in the evolving global market.”
The Port of Corpus Christi—dubbed the “Energy Port of the Americas”—is the largest crude oil export gateway in the United States and the third largest in the world. It also ranks second in the U.S. for liquid natural gas exports.
“All of this has been possible through extraordinary partnership. The Port of Corpus Christi Authority has been more than a non-federal sponsor—they’ve been a proactive, dedicated champion of this project since the very beginning,” said Brig. Gen. George Walter, the USACE Southwestern Division commander. “When federal funding was delayed, the port stepped up with advanced funds to ensure we could break ground without missing a beat. That level of commitment speaks volumes about their leadership and vision.”
USACE contributes to the wellbeing and economic success of local communities through its Beneficial Use of Dredged Material program. Annually, the Galveston District dredges approximately 30 to 40 million cubic yards of material. USACE employs environmentally and economically responsible ways to utilize dredged materials for beneficial applications and improve eroded coastlines through beach nourishment and beneficial use programs. For more information on SWG’s beneficial use of dredged materials, visit: https://usace-galveston-district-beneficial-use-ceswg.hub.arcgis.com/.
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