The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Galveston District, and the Port of Corpus Christi have celebrated the completion of the $74 million La Quinta Channel dredging project.
The project, which began November 2011, included extending the channel approximately 1.4 miles (to a depth of 39 feet) and constructing ecosystem restoration features to protect endangered species, wetlands and seagrass.
Extending the La Quinta Ship Channel is a major step forward towards the development of the La Quinta Trade Gateway Multipurpose facility, one of the most important diversification projects of the Port.
The ecosystem restoration part of the project consisted of an offshore rock breakwater and shore protection to protect and enhance approximately 40 acres of sea grass habitat and included the development of approximately 200 acres of shallow water habitat created by the beneficial use of dredged material.
The Port of Corpus Christi Authority (PCCA), currently the fifth largest port in the United States in terms of total tonnage traded, is strategically located on the western Gulf of Mexico, with a straight, 45’ deep channel, the Port provides quick access to the Gulf and the entire United States inland waterway system.
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Source: USACE