The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Galveston District, in partnership with Jefferson County and the Sabine Neches Navigation District, is preparing an Integrated Feasibility Report and Environmental Assessment for the Jefferson County Ecosystem Restoration Study in Jefferson County, Texas.
The study will help contribute to larger ongoing efforts to improve, preserve and sustain ecological resources along the Texas coast by stakeholder groups, non-governmental organizations and government agencies at the local, state and federal levels, USACE said.
A Civil Works feasibility study is the initial step in the USACE process for addressing many of the nation’s significant water resources needs and typically focuses on one or more of USACE’s key mission areas: flood risk management, navigation or ecosystem restoration.
After Congress has both authorized and appropriated funds to begin a study, USACE works with a non-federal sponsor (sponsor) and a multi-disciplinary Project Delivery Team to conduct a feasibility study.
A feasibility study establishes the federal interest, engineering feasibility, economic justification and environmental acceptability of a water resources project recommended for congressional authorization and construction.
Specifically, the Corps and the sponsor work together to identify water resources problems, formulate and evaluate solutions, resolve conflicting interests and prepare recommendations.
Feasibility studies are cost shared equally between the sponsor and the federal government. Typically, the feasibility study and resulting recommendation for project authorization in the form of a Chief’s Report should be completed at a total cost of $3 million and within three years of study initiation.