February 4, 2003

United States budget

President George W. Bush has included $450,000 for Texas in his Fiscal Year 2004 proposal for $84 million in beach studies and projects in the United States.

Howard Marlowe, a lobbyist for Galveston and Jefferson counties, as well as the City of Galveston, the Galveston Park Board of Trustees and the City of Jamaica Beach, said the allocation is exactly what Texas requested of the federal government.

Marlowe said the funds will support the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' study of beach erosion between Sabine Pass and San Luis Pass.

"In a couple of years, maybe three at the outmost, we ought to be able to see some sand on that beach," Marlowe said.

He said the funding recommendation bodes well for hopes of reconstruction of Highway 87 between Sabine Pass and High Island.

"The major reason for Jefferson County undertaking this project is certainly to make sure that Highway 87 gets opened up again as a result of the beach nourishment project," Marlowe said.  "I'm hopeful that the final plans for beach restoration, plus the work that is being done with the state department of transportation in their environmental impact statement, where they are looking at different alternatives for that route, that we will be able to get that opened up again."

Marlowe said he envisions that the reconstructed highway will be protected by a "very strong dune system from a built up, healthy beach." 

Although he is pleased with the president's allocation for Texas, Marlowe noted that some other coastal areas were not so fortunate.  "Florida with all of its beaches regrettably got zero dollars in the president's budget."

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