Gulf Coast Protection District is a support partner to the Port Arthur element of the Sabine Pass to Galveston Bay Project, managing financial allocations from the Texas General Land Office.
Currently under construction, the project is a federally authorized effort to make major upgrades to Port Arthur’s flood protection system. Originally built by the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and operated locally by Jefferson County Drainage District 7 (DD7), the project is designed to safeguard homes, businesses, and vital infrastructure from powerful coastal storms for at least the next 50 years.
New levees, floodwalls, and gates are being constructed to mitigate the effects of sea level rise, helping to preserve residents’ quality of life and support the local economy while protecting one of the nation’s most important industrial and port areas.
The current drainage system consists of 281 miles of concrete and earthen ditches, 36 miles of levee and seawall, and 20 pump stations. The project aims to reduce the risk of flooding for residents, businesses, and major industrial facilities in Southeast Texas, including Port Arthur, Port Neches, Groves, Nederland, and unincorporated areas of Jefferson County.
The City of Port Arthur’s levee system was built in the 1930s. It is now being modified and incorporated into the federally authorized levee system currently under construction. The new system will consist of 27.8 miles of earthen levee embankment, 6.6 miles of floodwalls, 34 drainage structures, 26 closure structures, and constructed wave barrier features. The system also includes thirteen pump stations, eight of which were pre-existing.
Federal sponsor: A project constructed by USACE using federal funding, then handed off to a local entity for operations & maintenance.
Non-Federal sponsor: a local entity partnered with USACE to carry out projects. Responsibilities can include cost sharing, land acquisition, project design, construction, regulatory compliance, and long-term maintenance.
Non-Federal sponsor: a local entity partnered with USACE to carry out projects. Responsibilities can include cost sharing, land acquisition, project design, construction, regulatory compliance, and long-term maintenance.
Support partner to DD7 by managing financial allocations from the Texas General Land Office.
