South Padre Island beach renourishment underway

The City of South Padre Island is working in partnership with the Army Corps, the Texas General Land Office, and Cameron County to renourish the beaches on South Padre Island.

Photo courtesy of Tommy J. Saenz

To renourish the beaches, the contractor is using beach-quality sand harvested from a local dredging project, the Brownsville ship channel.

USACE recently awarded a contract to Weeks Marine to perform the regular maintenance dredging of the Brazos Island Harbor Federal Navigation Channel.

According to the City, around 400,000 cubic yards of dredged sand will be used beneficially to replenish beaches at the South Padre Island and Isla Blanca Beach.

“Around seventy-five percent of the material is going to the area from Access 23 to Access 18. The remainning twenty-five percent crews will place at the Isla Blanca Park,” the City said in the release.

“We work extremely hard to protect and maintain our beaches for the enjoyment of all,” said Kristina Boburka, Shoreline Director. “This project also helps to preserve critical wildlife habitat for threatened and endangered species.”

The deadline for completion of works is approximately sixty days, weather permitting.