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

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