Introducing the Coastal Texas Project Partners

The Coastal Texas Project is a partnership of the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), the lead Federal agency, and its two non-Federal sponsors, the Gulf Coast Protection District (GCPD) and the Texas General Land Office (GLO). Working together, these entities will be responsible for delivering this $34 billion project, in today’s dollars, representing and integrated and comprehensive coastal resiliency strategy for the Texas coast.

Generally, 65% of total project costs are the responsibility of the Federal government, while the non-Federal sponsors must provide 35% of project costs. Furthermore, the USACE, as the lead Federal agency, will lead all design and construction efforts, with the support of its non-Federal sponsors. Upon completion of construction, it is anticipated that the ongoing operations and maintenance of the project components will be the responsibility of the non-Federal sponsors.

Project Overview

The Coastal Texas Project includes a combination of coastal storm risk management and ecosystem restoration projects that function as a system to reduce the risk of coastal storm surge damages to our coastal communities and vitally important industries, and to restore degraded coastal ecosystems. Focused on redundancy and robustness, the Coastal Texas Project provides increased resiliency along the Texas coast and is adaptable to future conditions, including sea level rise. The Coastal Texas Project consists of:

The Galveston Bay Storm Surge Barrier System, to reduce damage to communities, critical petrochemical and refinery complexes, Federal navigation channels, and other existing infrastructure in and around Galveston Bay from storm surge.
A Coastwide Ecosystem Restoration Plan, to restore degraded ecosystems that buffer communities and industry at eight locations on the Texas coast from erosion, subsidence, and storm losses.
The South Padre Island Beach Nourishment Project, including 2.9 miles of beach nourishment and sediment management activities.

The Project Partners

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Galveston District (USACE): For all projects under the Coastal Texas Project umbrella, the USACE will serve as the lead Federal agency and be responsible for all design and construction efforts. Specifically, work performed by the USACE will be led by the Mega Projects Division within the Galveston District, with support from other Districts and Centers of expertise across the USACE.

Starting with the Flood Control Act of 1917, the USACE has served as the lead Federal flood control agency, tasked with studying and constructing water resources projects related to flood risk reduction. Two of the USACE’s primary missions, both of which are reflected in the Coastal Texas Project, are coastal storm risk management and ecosystem restoration. To meet these missions, the Army Corps of Engineers works in partnership with Federal, state, local and private entities. The USACE Galveston District is committed to providing vital public engineering services in peace and war to strengthen our nation’s security, energize the economy and reduce risks from disasters. For more information about the USACE, visit https://www.swg.usace.army.mil/.

Gulf Coast Protection District (GCPD): The GCPD will serve as the non-Federal sponsor the collection of projects which comprise the Galveston Bay Storm Surge Barrier System. Through inter-local agreements, it is anticipated that additional local entities may support the GCPD in fulfilling its obligations as the non-Federal sponsor.

The GCPD was created in 2021 by the 87th Texas Legislature to oversee the implementation of an integrated and comprehensive coastal resilience strategy for the upper Texas coast. Specifically, this includes assuming the role of non-Federal sponsor for major portions of the Federally funded and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers-led Coastal Texas Project and Sabine Pass to Galveston Bay Project. The GCPD encompasses approximately 5,220 square miles of land covering Chambers, Galveston, Harris, Jefferson, and Orange counties. For more information about the GCPD, visit https://www.gcpdtexas.com.

Texas General Land Office (GLO): The GLO will serve as the non-Federal sponsor for the collection of projects which comprise the Coastwide Ecosystem Restoration Plan in addition to the South Padre Island Beach Nourishment Project. Through inter-local agreements, it is anticipated that additional local entities may support the GLO in fulfilling its obligations as the non-Federal sponsor.

The GLO, formed in 1836, is the oldest state agency in Texas. Specific to coastal resources, the GLO is responsible for the management of coastal public lands and implementation of the Open Beaches Act, Dune Protection Act, the Coastal Erosion Planning and Response Act, and the Coastal Management Program. To accomplish this, the GLO operates various coastal programs, projects, and partnerships that work together to address erosion, loss of habitat, impacts on wildlife and fisheries, degradation of water quality and quantity, storm surge, public access to beaches, and the enhancement of coastal resiliency. For more information about the GLO, visit https:/glo.texas.gov

Learn more about the projects included in the Coastal Texas Project and the project partners on the About the Project page of this website.