Sunday, December 9, 2012

RICE DIKE PROPOSAL COULD DESTROY GALVESTON BAY BAYSHORE COMMUNITIES





Houston has the resources to protect critical industries on Ship Channel



By Jim Blackburn and Phil Bedient | December 7, 2012 | Updated: December 7, 2012 7:16pm



In the Houston area, we watched with sympathy and understanding as Hurricane Sandy ravaged New York and New Jersey. We know what kind of damage these storms can bring. Yet we have failed to act to protect against the economic and environmental devastation a well-placed storm will have on our community.


The Houston Ship Channel contains the nation's largest petrochemical complex and some of its most critical industrial facilities. Extending approximately 20 miles from Loop 610 East to the Hartman Bridge, the channel provides direct, induced and indirect employment to more than 150,000 people in Houston, and more than 1 million jobs in Texas. It generates annual payrolls in excess of $13 billion and more than $178 billion in economic output, with port users generating nearly $5 billion per year in tax revenue for local governments and the state.


So how vulnerable is the channel? Hurricane Ike mostly missed Houston and generated only about 13 feet of surge up the Ship Channel. If Ike had come ashore farther south, near San Luis Pass where originally predicted, the surge up the Ship Channel would have reached almost 20 feet. And Ike was only a category 2 storm. If Ike had had higher wind speeds with landfall at San Luis Pass, it would have generated 25 feet of surge up the channel, causing massive economic and ecological damage. In fact, based on research by Hal Needham of Louisiana State University, the 100-year flood surge in the Ship Channel is predicted to be about 25 feet, after taking into account the funneling effects of Galveston Bay.


It is important to note that existing flood plain maps currently do not include surge flooding in their analysis of the 100-year flood plain. Government regulations require protection of many Ship Channel facilities to Federal Emergency Management Agency flood plain maps, but these elevations are only about 13 feet to 14 feet along the channel, far short of the projected 25-foot surge.


So what harm would a 25-foot surge cause? A 25-foot surge would put a significant part of the channel complex underwater. Of particular concern is that almost 2,800 storage tanks of various types would be subject to various depths of flooding.


Many tanks would float off their foundations or otherwise lose containment of the various chemicals and oil products that they hold, much like Murphy Oil's experience in Louisiana after Hurricane Katrina. Additionally, any number of pumps, generators and other necessary elements would be destroyed, as occurred to Invista Chemicals in Orange during Ike. It could easily take months to make necessary repairs, assuming that all flooded facilities would rebuild.


Such a flood event would have catastrophic effects not only on the economy of the Houston region but also on Galveston Bay. The Ship Channel complex handles large amounts of toxic materials. For the most part, the record is quite good, but surge flooding of this magnitude would create an environmental disaster never experienced by Galveston Bay or residential areas adjacent to channel industries.


As a community, we do not have to continue to take these economic and ecologic risks. There is a solution to this extreme and present risk that can be locally funded and that can be completed in a timely manner without significant controversy over environmental impacts. It is a solution that is compatible with larger, regional structural solutions that will take far more time to implement and that must rely heavily on federal funding to build.


Research at Rice University's Severe Storm Prediction, Education and Evacuation from Disasters Center has discovered that the ground elevation is 25 feet above sea level on both sides of the Houston Ship Channel near the Hartman Bridge. It is both possible and feasible to create a continuous 25-foot structure that would keep the brunt of a major storm surge from entering the channel and destroying the complex.


At least two designs have been explored for protecting the Ship Channel from this 25-foot surge. In both cases, levees would be constructed to the edge of the dredged channel. One is a gate structure similar to that used in the Netherlands. The other is a structure that would slide across the channel, like a bolt into a socket.


The Ship Channel is vulnerable, and it can be protected. Protection for the Ship Channel can be constructed relatively quickly and can likely be funded by local bond issues. Freeport and Texas City industrial facilities are already protected. The Ship Channel should be as well. And there is no doubt about the payback. A gate structure should cost less than $1 billion, and would protect us from economic losses that could exceed $100 billion, as well as environmental damage of a similar magnitude.


We are at a clear decision point within our community. The Hartman Bridge Gate would provide security for our economic and manufacturing future as well as ecological security for Galveston Bay. This is a challenge that should be accepted for the well-being of all residents of the Houston region.




Bedient is the director of Rice University's Severe Storm Prediction, Education and Evacuation from Disasters Center; Blackburn is co-director of the SSPEED Center.










IN reply to ;




Houston has the resources to protect critical industries on Ship Channel



By Jim Blackburn and Phil Bedient | December 7, 2012 | Updated: December 7, 2012 7:16pm






I kindly wish to tell the rest of the story of the proposed RICE DIKE, and what it will do...




RICE DIKE PROPOSAL WOULD DESTROY GALVESTON BAY BAYSHORE COMMUNITIES




TO FRIENDS AND NEIGHBORS IN THE BAYSHORE COMMUNITIES


THIS proposed RICE dike proposal, if approved in it’s entirety, would kill our Bay shore communities as we know it. Your property values would tank to zero, and you would eventually be forced out of your home. what the port of Houston and industries there from plan to do with this Rice dike, is to make the entire surrounding properties around the Galveston Bay complex a larger petro chemical complex, and cargo port, thus dredging more toxins for more GLIT islands to be built lining the ship channel filled with dredge toxins, for the next hurricane to bury our Bay shore communities, because the RICE DIKE, in it’s entirety, would literally wall us out of any Hurricane protective zone. What the Rice Dike does, it hangs me and my neighbors out to drown in 25 feet of water and toxic GLIT island Mud, and what is left will be used for “waterfront recreation and other environmental and natural coastal features”. This Rice dike proposal would take some of the highest elevated land around Galveston Bay and Real Estate there from, and turn it all into a marshland after the next big one.


PLEASE SAY KNOW TO THE RICE DIKE, AND SAY YES TO THE IKE DIKE BY TEXAS A.M.


IT’s time to take our communities and Galveston Bay back from the port of Houston and all it’s GLIT islands being manufactured in Galveston Bay, and also from the surrounding toxic chemical plants that continue to built.


Please see ;


RICE UNIVERSITY IKE DIKE hwy-146-levee proposal, THAT WOULD WASH AWAY SEABROOK, KEMAH, BAYVIEW, BACLIFF, AND SAN LEON


NOVEMBER 2011


Preliminary research results indicate that the most feasible structure will be a levee along SH-146 accompanied by pocket levees, built by private landowners. The levee would connect natural 25 foot elevations near the Houston Ship Channel and the Texas City Dike effectively protecting the properties and critical facilities and infrastructure west of SH-146. However, moveable barriers would need to be placed at Clear Lake and highway underpasses.


*** Furthermore, this proposal leaves waterfront properties and communities east of SH- 146 vulnerable; however, it maintains the possibility of waterfront recreation and other environmental and natural coastal features.






HERE is a IKE DIKE proposal that would help SAVE AND PROTECT SHOREACRES, SEABROOK, KEMAH, BAYVIEW, BACLIFF, AND SAN LEON.


THIS Ike Dike proposal by TAMU does NOT abandon all of us that have lived here all our lives, and this proposal does not sell out to developers ;






=====================



From: Terry S. Singeltary Sr.


Sent: Tuesday, October 09, 2012 5:30 PM


To: William Merrell


Cc: Cherie Coffman


Subject: Re: Ike Dike question ? fantastic! thank you for your kind reply Sir, and explanation for the layperson such as me. many thanks, I like your proposal much, much, better Sir, considering my backyard is Galveston Bay here in Bacliff, 77518 shoreline. with that rice university plan, the shorelines from Kemah to San Leon and property values there from would tank and the next big one, we would all be marsh land. course, it would not matter much anyway, because that big toxic dredge island I have to look at everyday now, you know the one they propose to double in size now, well all that would be in our houses. ...what were they thinking. ...thanks again. with kindest regards, terry




=====================



From: William Merrell


Sent: Tuesday, October 09, 2012 5:08 PM


To: Terry S. Singeltary Sr.


Cc: Cherie Coffman


Subject: RE: Ike Dike question ?


Again - the Dike you describe is proposed by Rice University. It has nothing whatsoever to do with the Ike Dike. The Ike Dike protects everyone in the Bay because it is along the coast. You can verify this and learn the details of the Ike Dike by going to our website







=====================


From: Terry S. Singeltary Sr. [mailto:flounder9@verizon.net]


Sent: Tuesday, October 09, 2012 5:00 PM


To: William Merrell


Cc: Cherie Coffman


Subject: Re: Ike Dike question ?


Greetings again Dr. Merrell,


Sir, I had a question.


I did not have any ideas, other than the fact, I am concerned and confused on one of rumored proposals of Ike Dike, and we wanted to know the truth, and I was told, you were the person to go to, and my question was as follows ;


i heard that one of the potential designs for the ike dike, would have everyone living south of the Kemah bridge on hwy 146, and everyone east of hwy 146 there from, i.e. Kemah, Bayview, Bacliff, and San Leon, all these fishing communities would be EAST OF SAID IKE DIKE, as the said IKE DIKE would be built west of hwy 146, thus leaving everyone east of 146 to be left for marsh land, as any hurricane after said IKE DIKE built would leave these fishing communities as marsh lands due to any IKE DIKE built west of hwy 146, is any of this true?


is there any proposal on the table to eliminate the Kemah, Bayview, Bacliff, and San Leon shore lines from the Ike Dike?


is the scenario of said rumor, I proposed above, is this one of the proposals?


as home owners, property owners, and business owners, we are concerned, and we have a right to know if this is a proposal or not?


a simple yes or no answer will do. ...


thank you,


kind regards,


terry



=====================



From: William Merrell


Sent: Tuesday, October 09, 2012 4:38 PM To: Terry S. Singeltary Sr.


Cc: Cherie Coffman


Subject: RE: Ike Dike question ?


The 146 dike is proposed by the SSPEED Center at Rice. I agree with your ideas on it. The Ike Dike is a coastal spine which would protect everyone. Details on website http://www.tamug.edu/ikedike/


Best regards, Bill


William Merrell George P Mitchell Chair Texas A&M University at Galveston Po Box 1675 Galveston, Texas 77553-1675 409-740-4732 work 409-740-4787 fax 409-771-2225 cell



=====================



From: Terry S. Singeltary Sr. [mailto:flounder9@verizon.net]


Sent: Tuesday, October 09, 2012 12:50 PM


To: William Merrell


Subject: Ike Dike question ?


Greetings Dr. Merrell,


I am a bit concerned and confused, and hoping you might be able to help straighten out any confusion on the IKE DIKE.


i heard that one of the potential designs for the ike dike, would have everyone living south of the Kemah bridge on hwy 146, and everyone east of hwy 146 there from, i.e. Kemah, Bayview, Bacliff, and San Leon, all these fishing communities would be EAST OF SAID IKE DIKE, as the said IKE DIKE would be built west of hwy 146, thus leaving everyone east of 146 to be left for marsh land, as any hurricane after said IKE DIKE built would leave these fishing communities as marsh lands due to any IKE DIKE built west of hwy 146.


is any of this true ?


can you please show me where all the said potential designs and drawings might be for the public to view on any said IKE DIKE ?


thank you,


kindest regards, terry



===================



END...TSS


Dr. Merrell, a marine scientist from Texas A&M, will be talking about his proposal December 11, 2012 at 7 P.M. to explain his proposal, at a Town Hall Meeting in San Leon, Texas, at the San Leon Fire Station. ...



=====================================



see full text ;



October 10, 2012


IKE DIKE PROPOSED BY RICE UNIVERSITY hangs our Bayshore communities out to dry, IN 25 FEET OF WATER, to make way for WATERFRONT RECREATION $$$






ARMY CORP APPROVED TOXIC DUMPS IN GALVESTON BAY ‘GLIT ISLANDS’


GLIT ISLAND





GLIT ISLAND DOCK





GLIT ISLAND TRACTOR SPREADING A LOAD OF ?





JUST NORTH OF GLIT ISLAND, YOU HAVE MANY MORE GLIT TYPE ISLANDS BEING MANUFACTURED





1ST GLIT TYPE ISLAND PAST THE ORIGINAL GLIT ISLAND, WE HAVE GLIT ISLAND 2



GLIT ISLAND 2





see tractors and pattern works here ???



zoom in and zoom out








JUST PAST THAT, GLIT ISLAND 3


GLIT ISLAND 3


(you can see the dredge way to the right of the photo. zoom in, and look at the waters of the bay from the dragline...)





ZOOM IN






GLIT ISLAND 4, JUST NORTH OF GLIT ISLAND 3,


GLIT ISLAND 4 SEEMS TO BE CONNECTED TO MANY GLIT TYPE ISLANDS NOW BEING FORMED AND FILLED IN, that eventually, once running northward, start to turn green, just before the Atkinson Island Wildlife Management area







disgusted in Sunny Bacliff, Texas, still on the bay...for now?



TSS

Tuesday, November 6, 2012

IKE DIKE PROPOSED BY RICE UNIVERSITY hangs our Bayshore communities out to dry, IN 25 FEET OF WATER, to make way for WATERFRONT RECREATION $$$

October 10, 2012
 
 
 
RICE UNIVERSITY IKE DIKE hwy-146-levee THAT WOULD WASH AWAY SEABROOK, KEMAH, BAYVIEW, BACLIFF, AND SAN LEON
 
 
 
NOVEMBER 2011


 
Preliminary research results indicate that the most feasible structure will be a levee along SH-146 accompanied by pocket levees, built by private landowners. The levee would connect natural 25 foot elevations near the Houston Ship Channel and the Texas City Dike effectively protecting the properties and critical facilities and infrastructure west of SH-146. However, moveable barriers would need to be placed at Clear Lake and highway underpasses.


 
*** Furthermore, this proposal leaves waterfront properties and communities east of SH- 146 vulnerable; however, it maintains the possibility of waterfront recreation and other environmental and natural coastal features.

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 


 
October 10, 2012
 
 
 
IKE DIKE PROPOSED BY RICE UNIVERSITY hangs our Bayshore communities out to dry, IN 25 FEET OF WATER, to make way for WATERFRONT RECREATION $$$
 
 
 
SO, does this mean the Rice study sacrifices our homes, property, businesses, for a Fertittavi lle, from Shoreacres all the way south to San Leon, and everything in-between, east of 146?
 
 
 
YOU be the judge.
 
 
 
RICE UNIVERSITY IKE DIKE hwy-146-levee proposal, THAT WOULD WASH AWAY SEABROOK, KEMAH, BAYVIEW, BACLIFF, AND SAN LEON


 
NOVEMBER 2011
 
 
 
Preliminary research results indicate that the most feasible structure will be a levee along SH-146 accompanied by pocket levees, built by private landowners. The levee would connect natural 25 foot elevations near the Houston Ship Channel and the Texas City Dike effectively protecting the properties and critical facilities and infrastructure west of SH-146. However, moveable barriers would need to be placed at Clear Lake and highway underpasses.
 
 
 
*** Furthermore, this proposal leaves waterfront properties and communities east of SH- 146 vulnerable; however, it maintains the possibility of waterfront recreation and other environmental and natural coastal features.
 
 
 
 
 
 
HERE is a IKE DIKE proposal that would help SAVE AND PROTECT SHOREACRES, SEABROOK, KEMAH, BAYVIEW, BACLIFF, AND SAN LEON.
 
 
 
THIS Ike Dike proposal by TAMU does NOT abandon all of us that have lived here all our lives, and this proposal does not sell out to developers ;
 
 
 
 
 
 
=====================
 
 
 
 
 
From: Terry S. Singeltary Sr.
 
 
 
Sent: Tuesday, October 09, 2012 5:30 PM

 
To: William Merrell

 
Cc: Cherie Coffman
 
 
 
Subject: Re: Ike Dike question ? fantastic! thank you for your kind reply Sir, and explanation for the layperson such as me. many thanks, I like your proposal much, much, better Sir, considering my backyard is Galveston Bay here in Bacliff, 77518 shoreline. with that rice university plan, the shorelines from Kemah to San Leon and property values there from would tank and the next big one, we would all be marsh land. course, it would not matter much anyway, because that big toxic dredge island I have to look at everyday now, you know the one they propose to double in size now, well all that would be in our houses. ...what were they thinking. ...thanks again. with kindest regards, terry
 
 
 
=====================


 
From: William Merrell
 
 
 
Sent: Tuesday, October 09, 2012 5:08 PM
 
 
 
To: Terry S. Singeltary Sr.
 
 
 
Cc: Cherie Coffman
 
 
 
Subject: RE: Ike Dike question ?

 
Again - the Dike you describe is proposed by Rice University. It has nothing whatsoever to do with the Ike Dike. The Ike Dike protects everyone in the Bay because it is along the coast. You can verify this and learn the details of the Ike Dike by going to our website



http://www.tamug.edu/ikedike/
 
 
 
 
=====================
 
 
 
 
From: Terry S. Singeltary Sr. [mailto:flounder9@verizon.net]
 
 
 
Sent: Tuesday, October 09, 2012 5:00 PM

 
To: William Merrell
 
 
 
Cc: Cherie Coffman

 
Subject: Re: Ike Dike question ?
 
 
 
Greetings again Dr. Merrell,
 
 
 
Sir, I had a question.
 
 
 
I did not have any ideas, other than the fact, I am concerned and confused on one of rumored proposals of Ike Dike, and we wanted to know the truth, and I was told, you were the person to go to, and my question was as follows ;
 
 
 
i heard that one of the potential designs for the ike dike, would have everyone living south of the Kemah bridge on hwy 146, and everyone east of hwy 146 there from, i.e. Kemah, Bayview, Bacliff, and San Leon, all these fishing communities would be EAST OF SAID IKE DIKE, as the said IKE DIKE would be built west of hwy 146, thus leaving everyone east of 146 to be left for marsh land, as any hurricane after said IKE DIKE built would leave these fishing communities as marsh lands due to any IKE DIKE built west of hwy 146, is any of this true?

is there any proposal on the table to eliminate the Kemah, Bayview, Bacliff, and San Leon shore lines from the Ike Dike?
 
 
 
is the scenario of said rumor, I proposed above, is this one of the proposals?

 
as home owners, property owners, and business owners, we are concerned, and we have a right to know if this is a proposal or not?
 
 
 
a simple yes or no answer will do. ...

 
thank you,
 
 
 
kind regards,

 
terry
 
 
 
=====================
 
 
 
From: William Merrell
 
 
 
Sent: Tuesday, October 09, 2012 4:38 PM To: Terry S. Singeltary Sr.
 
 
 
Cc: Cherie Coffman
 
 
 
Subject: RE: Ike Dike question ?

 
The 146 dike is proposed by the SSPEED Center at Rice. I agree with your ideas on it. The Ike Dike is a coastal spine which would protect everyone. Details on website


http://www.tamug.edu/ikedike/
 
 
 
 
Best regards, Bill
 
 
 
William Merrell George P Mitchell Chair Texas A&M University at Galveston Po Box 1675 Galveston, Texas 77553-1675 409-740-4732 work 409-740-4787 fax 409-771-2225 cell
 
 
 
 
=====================
 
 
 
 
From: Terry S. Singeltary Sr. [mailto:flounder9@verizon.net]
 
 
 
 
Sent: Tuesday, October 09, 2012 12:50 PM
 
 
 
To: William Merrell
 
 
 
Subject: Ike Dike question ?

 
Greetings Dr. Merrell,
 
 
 
I am a bit concerned and confused, and hoping you might be able to help straighten out any confusion on the IKE DIKE.

 
i heard that one of the potential designs for the ike dike, would have everyone living south of the Kemah bridge on hwy 146, and everyone east of hwy 146 there from, i.e. Kemah, Bayview, Bacliff, and San Leon, all these fishing communities would be EAST OF SAID IKE DIKE, as the said IKE DIKE would be built west of hwy 146, thus leaving everyone east of 146 to be left for marsh land, as any hurricane after said IKE DIKE built would leave these fishing communities as marsh lands due to any IKE DIKE built west of hwy 146.

 
is any of this true ?

 
can you please show me where all the said potential designs and drawings might be for the public to view on any said IKE DIKE ?

 
thank you,
 
 
 
kindest regards, terry
 
 
 
===================
 
 
 
END...TSS
 
 
 
 
 
SEABREEZE NEWS said there was to be a Town Hall Meeting in San Leon, at the San Leon Fire Station, on December 11, 2012 at 7PM, to discuss this matter, and Dr. Merrell will be there to explain his proposal (see November issue of Seabreeze news). ...tss


 
 
 

Friday, October 26, 2012

Port will ask for permit to deepen channel

Singeltary's Galveston Bay Dredge Report, trying to save Galveston Bay. ...






Port will ask for permit to deepen channel



By Kiah Collier | Tuesday, October 23, 2012 | Updated: Wednesday, October 24, 2012 11:41am



The Port of Houston Authority will apply this week for a permit allowing it to widen and deepen the waterway leading to its oldest and largest container terminal, Barbours Cut, between La Porte and Morgan's Point.



The port's governing body on Tuesday OK'd a proposed application to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.



The $6.2 million project will expand the north edge of the Barbours Cut Ship Channel, a tributary to the Houston Ship Channel, by 75 feet, and deepen the now 40-foot channel by 5 feet. That will enable it to handle the influx of larger ships expected after a wider Panama Canal opens in 2015.



The so-called post-Panamax ships carry more cargo but sit deeper in the water.



The authority plans a larger $120 million deepening and widening project for the channel leading to the Bayport container terminal that opened in 2007. The authority faced significant opposition to its original permit Corps of Engineers application for that project because of a proposal to dispose of dredged sand and silt in a 400-plus-acre area in Galveston Bay that is heavily trafficked by sailors.



The authority dropped the "marsh" proposal after receiving significant pushback from recreational and environmental groups and bay-area communities.



The sand and silt dredged from the Barbours Cut channel will be disposed of in an existing disposal area that is nearby.



Mark Vincent, the authority's channel development director, told port commissioners Tuesday that he doesn't expect opposition to the Barbours Cut project but that the authority will hold a public meeting to answer questions about the project.



Vincent said he expects to have the Bayport permit "in hand" by year's end and one for the Barbours Cut project in less than six months.



Also Tuesday, port commissioners awarded a $14.7 million contract to Finland-based Konecranes to purchase eight diesel-electric container-yard cranes for the Barbours Cut Terminal.



The new cranes will replace existing cranes at the end of their "expected life equipment life of 20 years," according to background material.



Tonnage up



Authority CEO Leonard Waterworth reported that overall tonnage for September increased 4 percent compared with a year earlier. That includes 39 percent higher steel tonnage, which had been down in recent months.



September operating expenses were down 27 percent, while operating revenues increased 6 percent.



Year-to-date operating expenses decreased 3 percent, while operating revenues increased 9 percent.



Revised code of ethics



Commissioners adopted a revised code of ethics on Tuesday, which they hadn't done since 1994. It is stricter than the old version in many cases and provides more guidance on what constitutes conflict of interest. Adopting a revised code of ethics was one of more than a dozen major recommendations included in a report produced by staff of the Texas Sunset Advisory Commission after a five-month-long review of the authority's operations and policies earlier this year.



The review was called for by local elected officials after the authority became embroiled in an ethics saga that resulted in the resignation of then CEO Alec Dreyer. The Harris County District Attorney's Office investigated, but cleared Dreyer of any wrongdoing. He resigned in December, saying he felt stymied by the political tangles of the job.



kiah.collier@chron.com twitter.com/kiahcollier









I guess they got one permit stipulating one height for the toxic dredge dump behind our house, and since the people in shore acres, and yacht club, didn’t want another toxic dump, they got them to just make that island behind our house bigger with another permit? I guess the next big hurricane all that mess will be in our backyard. I went and bought 50 LBS. of shrimp yesterday at Hillmans for the winter, they are having to bring shrimp in from Polacias, Texas, because they are not getting any shrimp in Galveston bay. daaa, can you see my surprised look on my face. ...something is wrong with Galveston Bay, and it will only get worse with the continued dredging of Galveston Bay. now we are going to get super tankers up to the Houston Ship channel. why can’t they just stay in Galveston $ who will pay for the increased erosion of the bulkheads and shoreline, from these bigger ships, causing bigger wave activity? I am sure the Port of Houston, and the Army corp. of engineers already have that one all worked out, with a ‘no responsibility clause’, and or, another permit that the Army Corp. of engineers never following up on, like the one they did not follow up on for the PH Robinson H L & P power plant construction permitting process. I look for the Army Corp. of engineers just to rubber stamp another pollution project to bolster it’s earnings at the Port of Houston. I am afraid Galveston Bay has lost it’s battle to survive. ...




see map of island ;








Spillway inlet outlet canal Permit 5972 Hwy 146 Bacliff Texas pdf file











VIDEO FLOUNDER KILL



Galveston County BACLIFF TEXAS FLOUNDER FISH KILL MASSIVE AUGUST 11, 2012



see video of massive flounder kill with Seabreeze article September 6, 2012 ;



Thousands of Flounder Killed on San Leon Bacliff Shoreline (AGAIN)







additional sources for flounder kill video;















TSS

Monday, August 13, 2012

Texas Department of State Health Services has confirmed a bloom of Karenia brevis, also known as red tide, in Galveston Bay

Texas Department of State Health Services has confirmed a bloom of Karenia brevis, also known as red tide, in Galveston Bay



August 13, 2012


The Texas Department of State Health Services has confirmed a bloom of Karenia brevis, also known as red tide, in Galveston Bay. As a result, the following portions of Galveston Bay have been closed to shellfish harvesting:


Conditionally Approved Area 1 of Galveston Bay, Central and East Approved Areas of Galveston Bay and the Smith Point Approved Area of Galveston Bay. TPWD has received reports of fish kills from Sea Rim State Park, Sargent Beach and Surfside. Information is still being gathered and subsequent updates will be posted accordingly.


Galveston County BACLIFF TEXAS FLOUNDER FISH KILL MASSIVE AUGUST 11, 2012


Saturday, August 11, 2012

Galveston County BACLIFF TEXAS FLOUNDER FISH KILL MASSIVE AUGUST 11, 2012







Galveston County BACLIFF TEXAS FLOUNDER FISH KILL MASSIVE AUGUST 11, 2012
 
 
 
A sad day in Bacliff Texas 77518. a massive flounder fish kill off the shoreline of Bacliff, Texas. I know that heat has a factor, but it's been hot before, and i have never in my life seen this many flounder killed at one time, in one kill. we know that the spillway dead zone is a factor too, you can see that history below, where i posted about another flounder fish kill in 2010. the Toxic Island Dump of the Bacliff Shoreline, on the Houston ship channel, is probably not helping either. you can see toxic Galveston Bay dump off Bacliff, Shoreline here ;


 
 
 
 
see some history on annual flounder fish kills here ;
 
 
 
 
Aug. 3, 2010, 10:37PM
 
 
 
Subject: deadzone reply tss



WE have a dead zone right here in Bacliff Texas, on Galveston Bay, caused by ZERO oxygen level towards the bottom, flowing out of the Reliant spillway park, due to treated sewer being dumped into the discharge canal. i was told by TPWD, from that pipe down to the mouth of the bay, via the discharge pipe, there is a blue green algae that has created the ZERO oxygen levels towards the bottom. the ZERO oxygen levels once the water discharges into the bay, runs both North and South up and down Bacliff, and San Leon shore line. Both FLOUNDER AND STINGRAYS have been seen floating belly up in large numbers. this has been going on for about 4 or 5 years, every year about this same time we saw it this year, and is generally seen around no tide movement days. BUT, we have had a significant reduction in the numbers of flounders in our area over this same time frame. i guess that's why we smell fece's in Galveston bay from time to time also. isn't progress wonderful. ...not///



check out the next addition of the SEABREEZE newspaper.





here is the article in the Seabreeze news about this ;


 
 
 
 
UPDATE OCTOBER 6, 2012

 
 
 
WHY THE FISH ARE DYING (Part two in a series by Steve Hoyland Sr. of the Seabreeze News) Galveston Bay Area
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
The voice of the beautiful bayside communities www.seabreezenews.com PH: 281.235.8885


 
Serving: San Leon, Bacliff, Bayview, Dickinson, Texas City, Kemah, League City, Seabrook & Clear Lake Shores


 
October 4, 2012
 
 
 
Why The Fish Are Dying

 
(Part two in a series by Steve Hoyland Sr. of the Seabreeze News)

 
In our last issue, we reported on the massive fish kill in the area along the shore just north of the Spillway in San Leon. While that issue was still being printed I took two experts from an independent laboratory out in my boat to take mud and oxygen samples at the inlet and outlet of the HL&P (Houston Lighting & Power Co.) canal which passes through our scenic little community. The results finally came back from the lab just three days ago, and they are startling. On the HL&P canal inlet side that ties into Dickinson Bayou the chemical oxygen demand (COD) was 368 (normal being 40 or less.) The dissolved oxygen was 0.3. This dissolved oxygen level is so low where Dickinson Bayou and the HL&P canal meet that it cannot sustain any aquatic life. The lab analyst stated, "With the combination of these numbers this water is the equivalent of sewer water."
 
 
 
Coincidentally, there are currently five sewage plants that dump into Dickinson Bayou and the HL&P canal. On top of that, Texas City is rumored to have plans to turn the twelve hundred acres of HL&P property into a housing project. They have proposed building a sewage treatment facility on Dickinson Bayou between the inlet canal and the bridge, where it would dump one million gallons of treated sewage into Dickinson Bayou every day. What are they thinking?
 
 
On the canal outlet at the Spillway, we found the chemical oxygen demand (COD) was 358. The dissolved oxygen level was 2.8. Once again, the water there will not sustain aquatic life. The only good news from the testing we paid for is that there were no heavy metals detected in the mud samples.

 
The HL&P canal was initially dredged in 1972. According to specifications contained in the permit, it was to be 18 feet deep all the way from Galveston Bay to Dickinson Bayou. The same permit contained provisions that Dickinson Bayou was to be dredged out all the way out to the Houston Ship Channel. This was never done, not even one time.

 
This is the specific wording used by the US Army Corps of Engineers in writing to HL&P, before they issued the initial permit which created the canal:

 
"The decision as to where a permit will be issued will be based on an evaluation of the impact of the proposed work on the public interest. Factors affecting the public interest include, but are not limited to, navigation, fish and wildlife, water quality, economics, conservation aesthetics, recreation, water supply, flood damage prevention, ecosystems, and in general the needs and welfare of the people."

 
The above was written by the district engineer of the Galveston District, Corp of Engineers.
 
 
 
On May 10, 1972, Mr. D. E. Simmons, Vice President of Environmental and Inter-Utility Affairs for Houston Lighting and Power stated in writing to the Corp of Engineers that

 
"continued maintenance is planned."
 
 
In response, the Corp of Engineers issued a Public Notice on November 9, 1972 announcing plans for the HL&P proposals which included the obligation for the utility company to perform continued maintenance dredging. It was understood and agreed upon that the utility would maintain the canal by periodically dredging it and the adjoining bayou, in order to prevent what has now happened. As stated earlier, no such dredging has ever been performed since that 1972 statement. Due to the fact that the dredging maintenance was never performed, the HL&P canal and Dickinson Bayou have both filled in on the ends. This has caused what is called a ''Hydraulic Effect". Hydraulic Effect on Dickinson Bayou means the bayou is twenty-five to thirty feet deep until it gets close to the bay where it shoals to just six or eight feet. That that the bayou cannot ever flow correctly and get properly flushed out. All of the sediment from runoff collects into the mud of the bayou (ie: fertilizer, pesticides, and the waste from the sewer plants.) If the mouth of this bayou and both sides of the HL&P canal were continually dredged as stipulated in the original permit, this hydraulic effect would not be in play. If the bayou was dredged as stipulated in the permit, the lab analyst said that Dickinson Bayou would healing itself immediately. He said, "Mother Nature will eat up all the black muck with natural bacteria once there is a normal oxygen level and good tidal flow. This applies to the canal as well.

 
Dickinson Bayou and the shoreline can be fixed. It can be a vibrant, aquatic productive estuary once again. Dolphins, alligators, and all manner of wildlife once lived there. The reason our bayou has died is because someone didn't do what they said they were going to do, what they were in fact obligated to do legally.

 
Who is responsible for this major screw-up? I believe it is a combination of HL&P not doing the dredging they agreed to do, and the Army Corps of Engineers not verifying that work was performed. It all has to do with money.
 
 
We have put all of the documentation on our web site. To see the flounder kill video and copies of the permits and the drawings of the proposed dredging that was never done please visit ;
 
 
 
 


 
You do not need to be a subscriber to see this information.

 
A special thanks to Terry Singeltary of Bacliff for all of his help and support. Also, thanks to Texas A&M Galveston Marine Biology Department for their input.
 
 
 
We are not finished with our investigation. Look for continued coverage in the next issue of the Seabreeze News.
 
 
We will be in contact with the Galveston Bay Foundation and their attorney, seeking their knowledge and expertise.

 
We hope to find some way to open up Dickinson Bayou and both sides of the HL&P canal in order to facilitate the healing and restoration of our bayou and shorelines, as was expressly promised in the contract.

 
I have never been a ''tree hugger", but we cannot stand by and allow our coastal waters to be destroyed in the name of the almighty dollar, especially when the solution to the main problem is so simple.
 
 
 
If you have any information to share or "comments please write us at the Seabreeze News or send an email to: steve@Seabreezenews.com. Steve Hoyland Sr.
 
 
 
 
 
Spillway inlet outlet canal Permit 5972 Hwy 146 Bacliff Texas pdf file
 
 
 
 
 
 


 
VIDEO FLOUNDER KILL


 

Galveston County BACLIFF TEXAS FLOUNDER FISH KILL MASSIVE AUGUST 11, 2012
 
 
see video of massive flounder kill with Seabreeze article September 6, 2012 ;
 
 
Thousands of Flounder Killed on San Leon Bacliff Shoreline (AGAIN)
 
 


 
 
 
 
additional sources for flounder kill video;
 
 
 
 
 
 


September 6, 2012






Thousands of Flounder Killed on San Leon Bacliff Shoreline (AGAIN)



There was a major flounder kill on August 12th, 2012. Flounder up to 4 pounds were floating down the shoreline of the San Leon/Bacliff area. “This is the 6th year in a row that this has happened” said angry Bacliff resident, Terry Singletary. He said, “I’ve reported it to the Texas Parks and Wildlife in 2010, 2011 and of course this year in 2012. It is not the red tide.” I agree with him. He also reported it to the Galveston Bay Foundation. Their representative told Singletary that they were very concerned and that they would look into it. As of press time, he has not heard back from them.



The only thing killed and floating this year again was thousands of flounder. The red tide kills a variety of fish. Mr. Singletary reported to the Seabreeze, along with resident Robert Redfield last year, and we reported on it. This year Singletary reported it to the Texas Parks and Wildlife in Dickinson and also to the T.P & W. laboratory on Todville Road. He has pictures and videos. He talked to the Dickinson office of Texas Parks and Wildlife on August 14th and on the same day he sent them pictures and a video. Three days later they returned his call. They tried to convince him, like they did in 2010, that it is a blue algae bloom. Singletary asked them if they saw the video. The biologist said they have not even looked at it. He called the laboratory on Todville and they did not even want him to send them the video. The lady said, “If we want to look at the video we will ask you for it at a later date.” Two weeks later they are still not interested.



The flounder kill appears to have started around the HL&P Spillway mouth dumping into Galveston Bay. This morning as this paper was being printed, I was in my boat with a representative from an independent lab catching mud samples from each end of the H.L.& P. canal. We do not know where the contamination is coming from but at least we are doing something about it unlike the Texas Parks and Wildlife who are once again sitting on their ass doing nothing.



As we reach press time, September the 5th, we are waiting on the results of these samples. We already know that the H.L.&P. canal was not dug to the specifications of the original permit. The canal was required to tie into Dickinson Bayou on one end and they were to dig the Bayou out wide and 18 feet deep all the way to the channel. This side called the “inlet” side of the canal was not properly dug according to the permit. Two miles up from the Dickinson Bayou bridge, the bayou runs 20 feet deep or more. On the “Bay” side of the Dickinson Bayou bridge it averages 8 feet in depth. As anybody should know, water does not run uphill. So, all containments would stay in the bayou unable to escape. A good question would be who was overseeing the digging of the H.L.&P. canal and why did no one catch this colossal mistake? Or was it a mistake at all?



As of this time we have not jumped to any conclusions and we are not saying that the canal is at fault for the flounder kills. We will have to wait until the sample results are returned.



Dickinson Bayou is almost completely dead. The state has posted signs at all boat ramps saying do not eat fish from this bayou or swim in the water. Does this sound like a healthy vibrant bayou to you? We have been fighting a new sewer plant proposed to dump an additional one million gallons per day of treated water into Dickinson Bayou. Do you think this bayou can take any more abuse and survive? What do you readers think of this? Your comments would be greatly appreciated.



We will be reporting on this next month as we know more.



Steve



 
 
 
 
 
 
stupid is, as stupid does, and sometimes, you just can't fix stupid...
 
 
 
 
please see article ;
 
 
 
 
August 6, 2010
 
 
 
Got Flounder? Not in San Leon.
 
 
 
 
 
During the month of July, flounder and stingray have been floating up dead all along the San Leon/Bacliff shoreline on the north side. Our freelance reporter, Terry Singeltary, ob- served dead flounder floating by in groups of twos and three's with an occasional five or six. These are big, mature flounder, from two to seven pounds. Along with these flounder, dead stingrays have been seen floating by. Mr. Bobby Redfield, who lives on Bayshore Drive, also observed the same thing and gave me a call. This went on for several days. We received eight more calls where someone people left messages regarding dead flounder floating around the spillway, but did not leave their names and numbers. Our reporter contacted Lance Robinson, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Biologist located at the Dickinson office and expressed his concern about the destruction of these fish. Mr. Robinson said that they were aware of this problem and knew the cause. It turns out that a water treatment plant in the Bacliff area has a discharge pipeline that dumps into the HL&P outlet canal and goes out by way of the spillway and follows the tide. Since there is no longer any pressured flow discharging from HL&P, the chemicals from this treated water build up, removing all of the oxygen from the bottom of the water along the shoreline. The fish that live on the bottom of the bay, like flounder and stingray, cannot survive. This has been going on for years and has not been addressed. With the three sewer plants dumping into Dickinson Bayou and the de- pletion of flounder it makes you wonder why anyone in their right mind would want to put another sewer plant dumping into our precious, fragile resources. Mr. Robinson said they were having a meeting on this very subject. The meeting was to take place one week ago from this newspaper printing. Our reporter has put a call in to Mr. Robinson three days prior to this publication and at this time has not been called back. Maybe the Texas Parks and Wildlife has to contact the CCA and ask them how they should handle it. As we know more, you will know more. Do you fisherman ever wonder why there may be a shortage of flounder? With all of the sewer plants up and down the Texas coast dumping water treatment chemicals into our bays, creeks, rivers, bayous, estuaries, it's no wonder that the flounder are disappearing. What are you going to do about it Texas Parks & Wildlife? Are you going to keep cutting back the limits with the fisherman until you stop fishing for flounder forever, or are you actually going to address the problem? It's time for you Texas fishermen to wake up and let your voices be heard.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
with sad regards,
 
flounder9@verizon.net