Galveston Bay Hurricane Surge Study

Hurricane protection barriers are proposed for the Galveston Bay area. A separate model indicated that two barrier schemes would protect upstream areas: the plan 2 Alpha barrier was located just behind the gulf beaches and the plan 2 Gamma barrier crossed Galveston Bay 9 miles upstream. Both schemes provide gated navigation openings across channels and gated tidal passages of sufficient capacity, located to maintain existing conditions with respect to tides, currents, salinities, and dispersion patterns. Gated tidal passages are expensive and should be held to a minimum. Tests for normal tides were made in a 1:600-, 1:60-scale model for pre- and postbarrier conditions, and tides, currents, salinities, and dispersion patterns were observed. (Author Modified Abstract).