PCCA's Application to dredge to >75 feet

On January 3, 2019 the Port of Corpus Christi Authority (PCCA) filed an application with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to be allowed to dredge the Corpus Christi Ship Channel (CCSC) “from the currently authorized project depth of -56 feet MLLW…to a maximum depth of -80 feet MLLW” without a new Environmental Impact Statement.

• “The PCCA also proposes to dredge a 29,000 foot entrance channel extension… to a maximum depth of -80 feet” into the Gulf of Mexico."

• “The existing Inner Basin at Harbor Island would be expanded as necessary to allow VLCC turning there.”

Dredged materials includes 56.7 million cubic yards of dredge spoil. In addition 1,764.3 acres open waters would be dredged for a proposed channel and turning basin. Maintenance dredging of 1,083,000 cubic yards per year will be required to maintain that depth. In addition dredging will be required out 10.6 miles to hit the 75 foot line (per NOAA Chart 11307). Frequent dredging would be necessary and a traffic hazard, causing MAJOR shipping congestion!

•  “The effects of short-term physical disruptions such as dredging and longer-term changes such as significant deepening of the Aransas ship channel on fish spawning aggregations have not been studied in this region. It is likely that…alterations in depth might cause it to no longer be suitable.” -- “Recruitment of estuarine dependent species, etc.”, Dr. Edward Busky, UTMSI, December 2018