South Padre Island boasts some of the most attractive beaches in Texas, drawing visitors year-round. However, the island's developed areas are facing a significant challenge with beach erosion claiming 5 to 10 feet of coastline annually. This erosion threatens the integrity of Gulf-front homes and critical infrastructure, putting the island's vital tourism industry — its economic backbone — at risk.

Starting in 1994, we stepped in to help the City of South Padre Island tackle its growing beach erosion problem, beginning with a deep dive into understanding the erosion processes and trends. Our work involved not only analyzing the shoreline trends, but also exploring various solutions, from structural defenses to non-structural alternatives. After careful evaluation, we recommended beach nourishment as the most viable option. This approach was economically sound, improved beach access and aligned with permitting requirements. In addition, the nearby Brownsville Ship Channel could supply up to 500,000 cubic yards of beach-quality material every two years through federal dredging, making it a sustainable solution. As a result, we assisted the City in working with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to place dredged material on the beach during regular maintenance cycles of the Brownsville Ship Channel, and we also helped with approval of a ½-cent economic development sales tax to pay for beach maintenance.

In the first maintenance dredging cycle after the agreement was in place, USACE deposited 490,000 cubic yards of sand 4 miles north of Brazos Santiago Pass. Our role didn’t end there — we continued to support the City by monitoring subsequent dredging cycles and designing new projects to keep the effort on track. We also helped the City secure vital funding assistance through Texas’ Coastal Erosion Planning and Response Act, bringing the Texas General Land Office on board as a key funding partner.

Our most recent efforts included updating the City’s beach nourishment permit to include the Brownsville Channel segment and coordinating regulatory approvals to allow placement of sand during sea turtle nesting season, so the City doesn’t miss an opportunity to beneficially use sediment from maintenance dredging. Together, we've helped the City place over 3 million cubic yards of sand on their beaches, improving their resilience for years.

This project previously received the Best Restored Shores Award by the American Shore & Beach Preservation Association. In 2024, the project received the Robert L. Wiegel Coastal Project Award, which recognizes coastal projects that have stood the test of time and have shown a positive environmental, social or recreational benefit.