SAN LUIS PASS INLET MANAGEMENT STUDY & EMERGENCY TREASURE ISLAND SHORELINE STABILIZATION
Brazoria/Galveston County, Texas

San Luis Pass Inlet Management and Treasure Island Emergency Stabilization Study was performed to develop an understanding of the processes controlling the morphology of San Luis Pass, and to develop a plan to stabilize the Treasure Island shoreline from further erosion.

Work completed for the San Luis Pass Inlet Management and Treasure Island Emergency Stabilization Study included:

		Literature review and historical data collection
		Geotechnical data collection and analysis
		Bathymetric data collection and analysis
		Morphologic analysis of San Luis Pass
		Numerical modeling of waves, circulation, and sediment transport pathways in the vicinity of the Pass
		Preliminary Engineering Assessments of stabilization measures for the Treasure Island shoreline.

The results of the Morphological analyses showed that San Luis Pass accumulates sediment at a rate of approximately 100,000 cy/yr. The deposition of this sediment results in the migration of tidal channels, which are causing severe erosion to the shorelines within San Luis Pass.

Geotechnical field data shows that the sediment within the flood shoal is beach-quality beach sand down to a depth of at least 18 ft below MSL.


Numerical modeling was conducted to explore the hydrodynamics, sediment transport, and sedimentation in San Luis Pass. Numerical modeling of sediment transport pathways shows that sediment eroding from shorelines adjacent to San Luis Pass is being deposited in the flood shoal.

Treasure Island shoreline stabilization alternatives included dredging a new channel adjacent to the shoreline to redirect flow from the existing location directly along the Treasure Island shoreline, and to act as a sediment source for beach nourishment of the Treasure Island shoreline.