The U.S. House and Senate both passed the Energy and Water Development Appropriations Bill for Fiscal Year 2026, securing $5 million in federal funding for the Coastal Texas Project. This appropriation marks Congress’s largest federal investment in the Coastal Texas Project since the project’s authorization in 2022, a milestone effort led by U.S. Rep. Randy Weber (TX-14).
Gulf Coast Protection District in partnership with the Texas General Land Office (GLO) approves two engineering design contracts to advance Coastal Texas Project. Jacobs was awarded engineering design of The Gate (Bolivar Roads Gate System), and HDR was awarded engineering design of Beaches and Dunes (Bolivar and West Galveston Beach and Dune System).
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) awards a $403 million contract to Kiewit US Contractors Co. to construct additional portions of the Sabine Pass to Galveston Bay Project, Port Arthur element.
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and Gulf Coast Protection District formally initiate the design of the Galveston Bay Shoreline and Island Protection element of the Coastal Texas Project.
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and Gulf Coast Protection District sign a Design Agreement, allowing them to partner on the design of two elements of the Coastal Texas Project—Galveston Bay Barrier System and Galveston Bay Shoreline and Island Protection elements.
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) awards a $102.5 million contract to Flatiron Constructors, Inc., to construct additional portions of the Sabine Pass to Galveston Bay Project, Port Arthur element.
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and Gulf Coast Protection District signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to partner on the Coastal Texas Project, specifically the Galveston Bay Barrier System.
The 88th Texas Legislature passed House Bill 1, a general appropriations bill, which provides $550 million to Gulf Cost Protection District and its programs.
U.S. President Joe Biden signed the Water Resources Development Act of 2022 into law, which includes authorization of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ (USACE) Coastal Texas Project. This legislative action officially authorizes USACE to begin implementation activities for this large-scale coastal storm risk management and ecosystem restoration program, pending appropriation of funding.
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and its contractors successfully complete the first construction contract and first mile of the Port Arthur element of the Sabine Pass to Galveston Bay Project.
Gulf Coast Protection District agrees to be the non-Federal sponsor for the Orange County element of the Sabine Pass to Galveston Bay Project through a Project Partnership Agreement.
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) releases it’s final study to construct a multi-billion-dollar project to protect the Texas Gulf Coast from hurricanes and storm surge. Named the Coastal Texas Project, the plan includes three elements that are a combination of engineered solutions and natural defenses. One element is the Galveston Bay Barrier System, also known locally as the “Ike Dike,” and includes seven features to protect the Houston -Galveston region from storm surge.
Gulf Coast Protection District’s Board of Directors holds its first public meeting.
Texas Governor Greg Abbott appoints the first Gulf Coast Protection District Board of Directors.
The 87th Texas Legislature forms Gulf Coast Protection District with Senate Bill 1160 SB1160.
