08-21-2002 Committee Meeting - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

Seventy -Five Foot Set Aside The PHA is committing the 75-foot wide strip located between the vegetated berm and Pine Gully (9.3 acres) to be set aside for habitat purposes and no future development (Sheet 15). The plan calls for this area to remain in its present natural condition. Channel Setback Areas shoreward of the existing channel boundary would be excavated to a width of 225 feet, as shown on the facility drawings included with this document. This effectively widens the channel and enhances navigation safety. In addition, this increases the distance of the berths from the residential areas north of the channel. North Shore Slope Protection Construction is complete on a slope protection and planting program for the north shoreline of the Bayport channel. While the riprap portion of the project addresses past, current, and future erosion, the permitted project was expanded to include tree and shrub planting designed to minimize the impacts of the terminal project on nearby residential areas. Beneficial Use of Dredged Material Dredged material, excess to that needed for site development, would be placed offsite. The material would be put to beneficial use, resulting in the creation of intertidal marsh, high marsh, and some upland where the marsh ties into the existing land mass (Sheet 13). Approximately 200 acres would ultimately be constructed. This use of dredged material would prevent the material from being disposed of as a waste and conserve valuable space in confined disposal areas. It would also potentially provide improvements in water quality in Galveston Bay and replace wetland habitat lost to subsidence or erosion. Cruise The original Bayport Master plan (1998) and permit application contained a five berth Cruise Terminal. The modified three -cruise berth plan reduces the submerged areas dredged by 23 acres, submerged areas filled by 21.3 acres (90% reduction) and the offsite dredged material disposal by over a million cubic yards Pre -Entry Gate Relocation In response to the concerns of residents, the pre -entry gate has been relocated approximately 5,000 feet west of its original location, as shown on the enclosed drawings (Sheet 2).