Packery.Com - Information source for the proposed Packery Channel Project...
DETAILED COMMENTS
ON THE
CORPS OF ENGINEERS'
DRAFT ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT (DEIS) FOR THE
NORTH PADRE ISLAND STORM DAMAGE REDUCTION AND
ENVIRONMENTAL RESTORATION PROJECT
BACKGROUND
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Galveston District, has been directed by the U.S.
Congress to carry out a storm damage reduction and environmental restoration project at North
Padre Island, Nueces County, Texas. Pursuant to this directive, an Environmental Impact
Statement has been prepared to address project impacts. The local sponsor is the City of
Corpus Christi. The project consists of reconstruction of an existing 2.6 mile channel and a new
0.9 mile channel extension between the Laguna Madre and the Gulf of Mexico across North
Padre Island referred to as Packcry Channel. In addition to opening Psckery Channel, the
project will provide two impermeable rock jetties at the Gulf end of the Channel and deepen and
widen the existing channel and Inner Basin. Packery Channel follows the course of a historic
pass between the Gulf of Mexico and the Laguna Madre. The project also involves the
establishment of four dredge material placement areas, including the use of some new work
material for beach nourishment to counter the effects of wave erosion.
EPA's comments arc as
follows:
PROJECT PURPOSE AND NEED CLARIFICATION
The DEIS title indicates that the project purpose is to reduce storm damage to North
Padre Island and to restore environmental conditions, which arc defined as "reducing
hypcrsalinc
conditions in the Laguna Madre." The document does not define or assess the storm damage
issue nor does it make a case for significant beneficial impacts on the salinity regime in Laguna
Madre. Rather, the DEIS is focused on another purpose, that of enlarging and extending the
Packery Channel, creating a pass to the Gulf of Mexico from the Laguna Madre. The purpose
for creating the pass seems to be to provide increased recreational power boat opportunities and
to stimulate economic development on North Padre Island, yet the DEIS docs not include
analyses of these goals. Please discuss this concern fully in the Final EIS (FEIS).
The first proposed purpose is to reduce storm damage. It may be inferred that this
damage is defined as a need for beach nourishment on the Gulf-side of Padre Island, south of
Packery Channel. However, this condition is not discussed in detail. No information is provided
to indicate whether the increased water exchange with the Gulf could increase the potential for
storm surge damage. Information should also be provided which clarifies the nature and
extent
of historic and recent beach erosion problems in this site-specific area, in the context of beach
erosion in the larger North Padre Island region. Once a status and trends analysis is developed
and potential causes identified, a range of options should be presented and analyzed. The DEIS
only examines the option of piping sand across the jetties installed to protect the Gulf opening
of the new channel cut. This is more accurately a project mitigation measure for
the jetty.
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