Initiatives | Current

Continue to strengthen GICA by increasing visibility and value of the organization

Create a heightened awareness of the organization and its activities among members, prospective members, community groups and government officials. Continue a high level of communication with members, while expanding communications capabilities to provide real-time updates via e-mail and internet vehicles. Continue to grow GICA membership.

Ensure adequacy of Coast Guard and Corps budgets at critical points along the Waterway

The Coast Guard and Corps are prohibited from lobbying directly for items in their budget. The GICA is the only organization whose primary responsibility is to ensure adequate funds be appropriated to maintain safe and efficient navigation on the Waterway.

Secure spare lock gates where economically feasible

Spare lock gates have not been available on the Waterway and tributaries, as they have on other rivers, thus increasing delays when the gates are repaired. The GICA is working with appropriate Corps Districts to develop a plan to secure spare gates.

Support replacement of certain shallow draft locks in Louisiana

Ensure that this study is completed expeditiously, and properly reflects the increase in efficiency to be gained by improvements. The locks at Bayou Sorrel and Calcasieu are current projects underway for replacement.

Ensure navigation problems and improvements are communicated and waterways are reopened expeditiously

Serve as a centralized communications center for members, the Corps and the Coast Guard, regarding navigation problems and needed Waterway improvements. Develop a close working relationship with key Corps and Coast Guard personnel in order to provide timely and effective communication regarding emergency Waterway closures, traffic restrictions and planned construction closures. Assist Corps and Coast Guard efforts to manage traffic emergencies and reopening of waterways after storms or incidents.

Increase awareness of legal and regulatory issues

Legislation, regulation and events that affect the viability and efficiency of the Waterway are not always obvious until they have achieved significant momentum. The GICA is working to develop a network of contacts and information sources to provide an early warning system, leaving time to take action when warranted.

Monitor the Section 216 Studies

Section 216 Studies along the Texas portion of the Waterway threaten to increase the cost of maintenance of the Waterway by several-fold. The GICA urges the Corps to use real science to find cost-effective and environmentally sound ways to continue to maintain the Waterway without threatening its efficiency. The GICA's goal is to ensure the average cost per mile for maintenance of the Waterway covered by any Section 216 Study does not increase by more than 100% as a result of the Section 216 Study or accompanying Dredged Material Management Plan.

Actively monitor and participate in two major flood control projects in south Louisiana

The Houma Hurricane Protection Plan and Lower Atchafalaya River Basin Study both impact the Waterway, and may include unnecessary structures and/or unreasonable current diversion that would impede navigation. The GICA's position is to ensure that structures placed in the Waterway are cost-justified, do not unreasonably impede navigation, and do not create unacceptable current flows.

Keep the Intracoastal Waterway open from Corpus Christi to Brownsville

As a result of the settlement of a lawsuit with the Lower Laguna Madre Foundation and Audubon Society, the Corps only performs emergency dredging on the Waterway between Corpus and Brownsville. Although navigation has not been affected, this uncertainty impacts negatively on the ability of the ports to market their services. The GICA's goal is to convince the Corps to complete the Dredged Material Management Plan in a timely manner that will not unreasonably increase the cost of maintaining this section of the Waterway.

Ensure Escambia River navigation

Due to conflicts over where to place dredged material, navigation on the Escambia River remains restricted. The GICA is working to facilitate agreement between the Corps and the state on an acceptable dredged material placement plan to allow current and continuing maintenance to occur.

Secure funds for widening of the Galveston Causeway Railroad Bridge

Due to GICA's successful effort to have this site recognized as a navigation hazard, efforts are now underway to secure funding for widening the bridge. Interim risk-reduction measures are also under investigation.

Defend the Waterway from misguided attempts to apply the Endangered Species Act on several fronts

Louisiana's Coast 2050 Program, along with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's proposal to designate thousands of acres of Gulf Coast wetlands as critical Piping Plover habitat, threaten viability of the Waterway. Left unanswered, these initiatives have the power to stop all maintenance dredging on the Waterway. The GICA monitors these initiatives closely, and actively engages in specific procedures to ensure the use of sound science in their resolution.