The Port of Corpus Christi Authority goes beyond compliance with statutes and regulations, coordinating with multiple agencies, boards, institutes and foundations in order to plan and design projects with sustainability at the forefront.

We conduct analyses to measure, document, and if appropriate, minimize or determine mitigation measures for impacts to the natural and human environment that could result from the proposed projects. Areas of analysis include biological resources, human environment and the physical environment.

Dredge material is placed in a variety of upland and aquatic habitats (including estuarine and tidal marsh) where erosion has occurred due to acute disturbance (e.g. storms) or chronic impacts (e.g. currents). The Port of Corpus Christi Authority works closely with the Coastal Bend Bays & Estuaries Program on bird studies and programs, including conducting bird surveys, predator management, and providing funding for creating, enhancing or restoring habitat and nesting areas.

Reusing Dredged Material

Dredged material, or material that is removed from the bay bottom to create additional depth can serve a wide variety of useful purposes.

  • Habitat creation and restoration: Restored wildlife habitats, wetlands, rookery islands and oyster reefs
  • Beach nourishment: Restored beaches and dunes subject to erosion
  • Shoreline stabilization: Living shorelines, fill for breakwaters, geotubes and wave breaks
“Most of this dredged material can be used in a beneficial manner, such as for nourishment of beaches with clean sand or development of wetland habitats. The National Dredging Team (NDT) recognizes dredged material as a valuable resource that can be used in environmentally beneficial ways.” – U.S. Army Corp of Engineers

Dredged Material Management Plan

Placement areas in the plan include green areas to create and restore estuarine, aquatic and marsh habitats, and provide beach and dune nourishment on the gulf side.

Yellow areas expand and repair existing placement areas, restore eroded shorelines or provide protection to seagrass areas. The feeder berms (shown in blue) offshore of San Jose Island and Mustang Island will nourish beach shorelines through the natural sediment transport process.

Restoration Projects

We’ve established 13 initiatives, 11 of which are beneficial use features aimed to achieve a variety of shoreline restoration, land loss restorations, marsh cell expansion and Gulf-side shoreline initiatives. Wetland delineation surveys and field work were performed to determine acreage of existing wetland ecosystems and natural seagrass habitats within the proposed placement sites.

Adverse impacts are expected on approximately 244 acres of delineated wetlands. Wetlands that are disturbed as a result of placement operations will be replaced in kind. The proposed restoration in the Dredged Material Management Plan (DMMP) provides for approximately 1,100 acres of restored aquatic habitat which greatly exceeds the actual adverse impacts of 244 acres.