On Tuesday, October 10, 2017, Associate Director for Research attended the Public Hearing of the Joint Texas House and Senate Interim Committee to Study the Coastal Barrier System. The group met at TAMU-Galveston and discussed the desirability and feasibility of constructing a coastal barrier system for the Greater Houston Area. Several presentations were given by different parties on this 200 mile and over $13 Billion coastal barrier system. In addition to the cost of building it, maintaining and operating this barrier costs more than $58 million a year.

Speakers and legislatures recognized the vital role of Texas’ higher academic institutions to help Texas design the best solution to mitigate the future impact of flooding on South East Texas, a region with an economy of over $1.7 trillion. This project, if approved and financed, will offer many opportunities for PVAMU in collaboration with other campuses, especially within the TAMUS and other universities across the Greater Houston area. There is substantial need for academic researchers to address issues related to the study of the feasibility, building, operation, and maintenance of this Coastal Barrier System.

A Photo of the public hearing at TAMU-Galveston, Tuesday October 10, 2017.
A Photo of the public hearing at TAMU-Galveston, Tuesday October 10, 2017.

Dr. Ali Fares
Ali Fares Ph.D.
Associate Director for Research
(936) 261-5019
alfares@pvamu.edu