{"id":19882,"date":"2024-09-19T11:16:16","date_gmt":"2024-09-19T16:16:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ewn.erdc.dren.mil\/?post_type=built-projects&p=19882"},"modified":"2024-10-10T09:58:14","modified_gmt":"2024-10-10T14:58:14","slug":"king-fisher-beach","status":"publish","type":"built-projects","link":"https:\/\/ewn.erdc.dren.mil\/built-projects\/king-fisher-beach\/","title":{"rendered":"King Fisher Beach"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

This project is featured in Engineering With Nature: An Atlas, Volume 2<\/a>. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Location: Port O\u2019Connor, Texas, United States.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Sunset on the postconstruction beach. (Photo by David Paul Orr, USACE Galveston District)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Nourishing a beach and protecting a coastline.<\/strong> What locals call \u201cthe best kept secret in Texas,\u201d Port O\u2019Connor houses the oldest marina in the state of Texas and is home to King Fisher Beach, a popular destination for swimming, boating, fishing, and birding. This beach is located near ecologically diverse habitat: large oyster reefs at Matagorda Bay; birding at Sundown Island, Texas\u2019s most diverse colonial nesting bird island; and critical habitat for endangered species, such as piping plover (Charadrius melodus<\/em>) and whooping cranes (Grus americana<\/em>), at Matagorda Island. However, the beach, which protects neighborhoods, restaurants, lodging, and schools from coastal storms, is susceptible to storm surge, rising sea levels, and erosion. Additionally, the beach provides habitat for colonial nesting birds and sea grasses. Therefore, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE)\u2013Galveston District saw an opportunity for beneficial use when performing maintenance dredging of a nearby federal navigation channel. In 2017, the Galveston District placed around 58,305 cubic meters of dredged sediment on King Fisher Beach by pipeline dredge from RLB Contracting Inc. The project was complete within just 125 days from the awarded contract, adding real estate value to surrounding neighborhoods, increasing tourism, building habitat, and providing storm protection and added protection against rising sea levels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Producing Efficiencies<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

The project team started by using collected physical and chemical data from the federal channel, determining sand grain size and chemical composition. Beach placement was strategic, long-term engineering with nature because wave surges moved the material towards the shore and combated the rate of erosion. By using the maintenance dredging cycle and placing sufficient material on the beach, the team was able to reduce the cost to all parties involved while adding storm protection to surrounding communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Shorebirds frequently gather on the renourished beach. (Photo by David Paul Orr, USACE Galveston District)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Using Natural Processes<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

A major challenge in placing dredged sediment along coastlines is combating wave energy and the rising sea level\u2019s tendency to erode beaches. By using the composition of the material already on the beach, the project team worked with nature instead of against it to distribute the material in the littoral zone. Using similar material from the channel also created habitat that was already suitable for migrating and local shorebirds and the other species they depend on for sources of food.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
The newly constructed beach is a popular spot for swimming, boating, and fishing. (Photo by David Paul Orr, USACE Galveston District)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Broadening Benefits<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

King Fisher Beach serves as a focal point for community celebrations such as the Fourth of July and Memorial Day. Restoring the beach protects this important local resource. Beach placement provides economic benefits as it reduces the cost of maintenance of federal placement areas, adds real estate value, and increases both recreation and tourism. Beach nourishment increases storm protection to surrounding communities and restores eroded habitat for coastal species. And the nearly 60,000 cubic meters of material dredged as a part of normal maintenance operations will now stay in the local ecosystem and reduce the rate of future erosion.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
The restored King Fisher Beach positively impacted O\u2019Connor businesses and residences. (Photo by David Paul Orr, USACE Galveston District)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Promoting Collaboration<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The Galveston District partnered with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Port O\u2019Connor Chamber of Commerce, and the Calhoun County Parks Board. The collaboration and the planning of this project ensured that placement would occur during periods less likely to impact both the economy and important nesting bird species. The result was a well-planned dredging project and a nourished, restored beach ready for tourists and local species alike.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Locals and tourists enjoy recreational fishing on Park Street Pier off of King Fisher Beach. (Photo by David Paul Orr, USACE Galveston District)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":19883,"template":"","tags":[90],"project-categories":[],"class_list":["post-19882","built-projects","type-built-projects","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-pg-galveston"],"yoast_head":"\nKing Fisher Beach - Engineering With Nature<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/ewn.erdc.dren.mil\/built-projects\/king-fisher-beach\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"King Fisher Beach - Engineering With Nature\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"This project is featured in Engineering With Nature: An Atlas, Volume 2. 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