ANAMAR was contracted to produce an Environmental Assessment (EA) for the beneficial use of dredged material supporting the Corpus Christi Ship Channel Improvement Plan.
Project Statute
- NEPA
- CWA Section 404
The Corpus Christi Ship Channel Improvement Plan authorized widening the existing channel from 400 to 530 feet, adding 200 feet of barge shelves on either side of the channel, and deepening from -47’ to -57’ MLLW, generating approximately 5 million cubic yards of sediment. This proposed dredge material was previously authorized for upland placement. This Environmental Assessment was intended to investigate the feasibility of beneficially using the dredge material in four preferred placement sites in the vicinity of the Corpus Christi Ship Channel.Based on screening analysis, agency coordination, and stakeholder input, a combination of the placement sites was selected as the preferred alternative. Selection of several placement sites provided sufficient capacity for the dredged material and satisfied the purpose of the project while minimizing environmental impacts. The potential environmental impacts investigated included historic and cultural resources, wetlands and special aquatic sites, water and sediment quality, wildlife and fish resources, protected species, freshwater inflows, sediment resources, recreation and land use, socioeconomics, and environmental justice.
