GICA | News | Navigation Problems Report | Archive 2003

Mile Board	319 WHL
Chart Number	11331
Problem	Old railroad pier falling into water.
Recommendation	Require owner to remove.
Status	CLOSED
Corps Project Manager	Earnestine Brown-Roach
Corps Action as of 7/30/03	Removed old railroad pier as part of the GIWW, Mile 293 to High Island project.

Mile Board	400 WHL Brazos Floodgates
Chart Number	11322
Problem	Existing mooring buoys need repair.
Recommendation	Repair buoys.
Status	CLOSED
Corps Project Manager	Bill Jakeway
Corps Action as of 7/30/03	All buoys repaired in March 2003.

Mile Board	420 WHL
Chart Number	none
Problem	Shoaling is reported in the middle of the channel.
Recommendation	Dredge the area as quickly as possible.
Status	CLOSED
Corps Project Manager	Joe Hrametz

Mile Board	426 - 431 WHL
Chart Number	11319
Problem	South bank eroding. East Matagorda Bay has breached GIWW in several locations causing accelerated shoaling and making channel definition difficult.
Recommendation	Reestablish south bank of the GIWW.
Status	CLOSED
Corps Project Manager	Lizette Richardson
Corps Action as of 7/30/03	Recent inquiries with the users indicated no navigational shoaling issues except at Mile 420 (Caney Creek) which is being evaluated as a potential Section 224 project.

Mile Board	540 WHL
Chart Number	11308
Problem	The narrow passage going through dredged material placement at the Ingleside Cut is difficult to navigate and prone to frequent shoaling. As a result, most operators use an unmarked route across Corpus Christi Bay, running from Marker 62 in the Corpus Christi Ship Channel, to Marker C near the Kennedy Causeway. Operators going west from Corpus Christi use an unmarked route across the bay as well. There is at least one abandoned pipeline near the surface of the water in the general vicinity of these routes which could pose a serious hazard to vessels if left unmarked.
Recommendation	Industry prefers both of these routes to be marked with day markers, to reduce any hazard from unmarked and unlighted obstructions. Before these routes can be marked, however, the Corps must designate them as official routes.
Status	CLOSED
Corps Project Manager	Robert Sherwood
Corps Action as of 7/30/03	The 216 study is evaluating three separate route alternatives to address the navigation and shoaling problem. The study will determine which of the three routes will be marked and maintained. Only one route can be selected and maintained. Obstruction was removed April 2003.

List of Hardened Sites
1.	Mile Board 267, pipeline crossing. The north and south bank have been hardened with rock and shell to protect the pipeline.
2.	Mile Board 277 north bank from Palmer Shipyard for approximately 1,000 feet west along north bank, steel and rock line the bank.
3.	Mile Board 292. The south bank has an exposed concrete structure.
4.	Mile Board 295. The pipeline crossing on the north bank has been hardened with rock and steel bulkhead.
5.	Mile Board 301. Rip rap on south bank for 300'.
6.	Mile Board 303. Rip rap on south bank for 280' in 5' of water.
7.	Mile Board 304. Rip rap on south bank in 5' of water.
8.	Mile Board 305. An exposed concrete structure is located on the north bank.
9.	Mile Board 307. Pipeline crossing on both banks has been hardened with rock and shell.
10.	Mile Board 19. East of High Island Bridge (Old Bridgetender House), concrete pilings are falling into edge of the ICW. The house was removed but two steel 8" pipes still project about 10' from the bank toward the channel. Also old railroad bridge base.
11.	Mile Board 322. Large concrete pads partially submerged with exposed rebar.
12.	Mile Board 323. South bank rip rap for 500'.
13.	Mile Board 330. The south bank out of Rollover Bay has been hardened with rocks.
14.	Mile Board 333. On the south point at the old Sun Oil Docks, rocks are used to harden the bank.
15.	Mile Board 336. South bank at Stingaree Marina has approximately 800' of rock, concrete, and rubble hardening the bank.
16.	Mile Board 338.2. The south bank area has been hardened by concrete rubble, rock and gravel.
17.	Mile Board 343. South bank, Seiver's rock and rip rap was used to harden the bank.
18.	Mile Board 388. South bank, concrete rubble, a steel dolphin, and other debris are slowly washing into the channel.
19.	Mile Board 395. Between Surfside Bridge, three areas of the bank have been filled with concrete rubble on the edge of the channel. Very serious problem is getting worse.
20.	Mile Board 427. Liveoak area, north bank concrete rubble and debris are being used as rip rap to harden the bank.

	STATUS October 1997: the Galveston Corps of Engineers is studying each site to determine best solution to eliminate danger to barges. UPDATE March 2003: all hardened site items have been closed.

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