Texas is a model for how states can lead the way in building long-term disaster resilience.
Our mission: protect our nation’s people, environment, and economy from storm surge. Through bold, locally-driven action, we are building coastal resilience that delivers national impact.
Gulf Coast Protection District is part of the largest coastal protection effort in U.S. history. By reducing risk today, we prepare communities for tomorrow.
Protecting people is at the heart of our mission. Each project is designed to shield families, homes, and essential services from coastal threats.
Local action is key to disaster mitigation. When communities lead, solutions meet real needs to safeguard our schools, hospitals, and small businesses.
The Texas Gulf Coast is home to some of our nation’s most essential infrastructure. It hosts major U.S. ports of entry, as well as some of the world’s largest refineries and petroleum reserves — assets critical to both our economy and national security.
Nature-based solutions are a cornerstone of our strategy. By employing multiple lines of defense, including ecological restoration, we aim to enhance the coast’s ability to adapt to rising sea levels and recover from extreme weather events.
Gulf Coast Protection District is a non-Federal sponsor working to advance two large-scale projects led by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Currently, there is no large-scale storm surge protection in Orange County. This element will consist of building new levees, floodwalls, and pump stations.
The Port Arthur element is currently under construction and includes major upgrades to an existing storm surge protection system to meet new federal standards.
A combination of engineered solutions with natural defenses, GCPD is leading two elements of the Coastal Texas Project—Galveston Bay Barrier System, also known locally as the “Ike Dike,” and the Galveston Bay Shoreline and Island Protection element.
Gulf Coast Protection District meets on the second Wednesday of each month at 10:00 a.m. unless otherwise posted. The Board of Directors invites all members of the public to attend.
To provide public comment at a Board Meeting, you must be present in-person and sign up in advance of the meeting.
For media inquiries, contact [email protected]
From advancing the Galveston portion of the Coastal Texas Project to staying focused on flood protection efforts in Southeast Texas, GCPD continues to move critical coastal resilience projects forward with...
Coastal communities like those around Galveston Bay rely on more than one line of defense. Storm surge barriers, levees, dunes and dredging each play a distinct role in keeping floodwater...
In Texas, hurricane season starts June 1 and runs through Nov. 30, following the Atlantic hurricane season. Peak activity is considered mid-August through mid-October. For the upper Texas Gulf Coast,...
Explore the powerful history of storms that have shaped the Texas Gulf Coast—and the communities that call it home. From the devastating Galveston Hurricane of 1900 to more recent events like Hurricane Ike and Harvey, this video highlights how these storms have impacted infrastructure, public safety, and coastal resilience efforts.
Learn about the latest developments with the Coastal Texas Project in 60 seconds. This effort aims to protect vulnerable Gulf Coast communities, reinforce critical infrastructure, and strengthen long‑term economic and environmental stability across the region.
In this message, Port Houston Commissioner Michel Bechtel shares his support for the Coastal Texas Project, emphasizing the need for resilient infrastructure that keeps cargo moving, communities safe, and industry strong along the Texas Gulf Coast.
