The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Galveston District, inspected signage at the Galveston jetties to ensure important safety messages are in place warning recreational fishers and beachgoers of potential dangers of using the rock structures as a recreational feature during the busy Memorial Day holiday weekend.
Jetties, also known as stone breakwaters, are used to minimize wave action along the shoreline and are a source of protection along the iconic Galveston Seawall, which helps maintain the structure’s integrity. Additionally, the jetties prevent sediment from filling the entrance to the Houston and Galveston ship channels, reducing dredging maintenance cycles.
“Public safety remains a top priority for the Corps, as the first major summer holiday of the season approaches,” said Col. Christopher W. Sallese, Galveston District commander. “We routinely inspect jetty signage along the Texas coastline as part of our normal operations to inform the public of the potential dangers of using the rock structures as a recreational feature.”
Built in 1874, the Galveston jetties assist the Corps in carrying out one of its primary missions of keeping waterways open for navigation.
“The jetties allow millions of tons of cargo, including critical commodities that contribute to the economic strength of the nation, to be shipped to various ports,” said Sallese.
According to Sallese, the Corps currently maintains the jetties for navigational purposes and is scheduled to repair the heads of the north and south Galveston jetties after damage was sustained as a result of Hurricane Ike.
“Some rocks at the jetty were displaced due to Hurricane Ike and plans are in place to replace the rocks, repairing the jetties to pre-Ike conditions,” said Sallese.
A contract, awarded to Conti for more than $45 million in March 2010, consists of jetty work in Galveston, Sabine, Freeport, Matagorda and Brownsville, and includes riprap repairs at Texas City.
The Galveston portion is more than $13 million and work is scheduled to begin mid June.
USACE Galveston District kicked off its summer water safety campaign in April, in order to educate the public about the importance of water safety.
“The arrival of the Memorial Day holiday weekend will bring an increased level of outdoor activities throughout the State of Texas, especially with outdoor recreation involving water activities on public beaches, swimming pools, boating and other aquatic-related activities,” said Sallese. “The Corps realizes the important role that education plays in saving lives and requests the public read and understand warning signs prior to using the Galveston jetties throughout the summer.”
For more information and tips on water safety, visit the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers website at http://watersafety.usace.army.mil/.
For more news about the Galveston District, visit www.swg.usace.army.mil. Find us on Facebook, www.facebook.com/GalvestonDistrict, or follow us on Twitter, www.twitter.com/USACEGalveston.