SOUTH PADRE ISLAND, Texas - Discolored sand being placed on an isolated area in Isla Blanca Park from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Galveston District’s Brownsville Ship Channel dredging and beach nourishment project at South Padre Island, Texas, raises questions from the local community about the quality.
“Residents, visitors and spring break goers should not be alarmed by the dark sand on the beach,” said Alicia Rea, a project operations manager with the USACE Galveston District. “The pockets of organic material that is currently being dredged onto the beach at Isla Blanca Park do not pose any health hazards to the public and will naturally dry and filter.”
According to Andrew Smith, a supervisory civil engineer in the USACE Galveston District’s Corpus Christi Resident Office, the material being placed in Isla Blanca Park is consistent with material that has been placed on previous beach nourishment projects.
The beneficial use project is scheduled to be completed March 11, in time for the busy spring break holiday. The dredge will continue to Port Mansfield following the completion of the work at South Padre Island.