400 words essay

Austin, Texas

Coordinates on Google Earth:  30ᵒ 16’20.14” N 97ᵒ 44’35. 02” W  elev 523ft eye alt 31.92 mi

The coastal protection plan I researched more about is in Texas. It’s called the Coastal Texas Protection and Restoration Feasibility study. The Texas General Land office and U.S Army Corps of Engineers partnered up to take on this study. The plan selection action resulted in six coastal storm risk management choices and nine large-scale ecosystem restoration projects. The study area consists of 18 counties along the entire Texas Gulf Coast. The Coastal Texas Study analyzes the following coastal problems; gulf shoreline erosion, inland shoreline erosion, economic destruction from coastal storm surge, disrupted hydrology and loss of threatened and endangered habitats.

Some key components of this coastal plan focus on coastal storm risk management and ecosystem restoration along the Texas coast. It involves economic, engineering and environmental analyses on big-scale plans. This study’s proposal will increase resiliency in coastal areas and boost our ability to recover, prepare for and adjust to coastal dangers. The study is estimated to cost about $19.8 million; it is said to be 50/50 cost share spilt between non-federal and federal.

The coastal storm risk management will expand and analyze coastal storm risk management solution to decrease the damage from hurricanes and tropical storms incurred by the coastal industries and communities. The ecosystem restoration focuses on expanding the net quality and amount of coastal ecosystem resources by preserving, protecting and establishing coastal Texas ecosystems; especially for wildlife and fish environments. “An ecosystem restoration management measure (ER measure) is a structural element that requires construction or assembly on-site or an activity that can be combined with other management measures to form alternative plans. ER measures were specifically developed to address the problems related to the ecosystem degradation throughout the coastal Texas area.” (Coastal Study Texas, 2018) The ER measures will perform two main objectives. The first goal is it will help give a sustainable and resilient coastal ecosystem by decreasing future territory deprivation and help restore coastal wetlands. It will help protect and support the economy and environment of coastal Texas. The second goal is to help a establish a normal landscape aspect and hydrologic processes; helps provide wildlife habitats and assorted fish.

The biggest threats to Texas’s coastlines in the near future is the drastic climate change it is experiencing year by year. in 2050, Texas will experience a sea level rise of up to 2 feet in Galveston. “The number of extremely hot days per year – with temperatures exceeding 95 degrees – more than double, from an average of 43 to 106.” (Collier,2015) If not much is done, to help with the climate change there might be a severe increase in heat-related deaths as well as coastal storm-related devastation in the near future. Lastly, there will be a big decrease in worker efficiency and crops generated. All in all, I hope this coastal plan succeeds and can help save the coastal lines of Texas.

References:

1. (2018, December 03). Retrieved from  http://coastalstudy.texas.gov/alternatives/index.html (Links to an external site.)Links to an external site.

2. Collier, K. (2015, July 28). Texas Facing Major Climate Change Impacts, According to New Study. Retrieved from https://www.texastribune.org/2015/07/28/study-climate-change-big-threat-texas/