Rice University will contribute its expertise to the newly established Coastal Texas Research Council, a scientific and technical hub supporting the historic Coastal Texas Project. Created at the request of the Gulf Coast Protection District (GCPD) and led by the Institute for a Disaster Resilient Texas at Texas A&M University at Galveston, the council brings together leading experts from Rice, Texas A&M and Delft University of Technology in the Netherlands.
Charged with serving as a science and technology partner in support of the Coastal Texas Project, the council will evaluate proposed research investments, conduct independent studies on pivotal engineering, environmental and societal challenges and deliver expert input to inform critical project decisions for two elements of the Coastal Texas Project-Galveston Bay Barrier System, also known locally as “Ike Dike,” and Galveston Bay Shoreline and Island Protection. The council’s work will be essential to ensuring Texas advances a nationally significant coastal barrier system that protects local communities while strengthening disaster resilience for the state and the nation.
Guided by its strategic vision to drive innovative, interdisciplinary solutions to energy, climate and environmental challenges — particularly in coastal regions where nearly 40% of the world’s population lives — Rice University is uniquely positioned to help advance large-scale resilience efforts along the Gulf Coast.
“Rice’s SSPEED Center has spent more than a decade advancing hurricane protection strategies for the Houston-Galveston region, and we are honored to partner with Texas A&M University and Delft University of Technology in support of the Gulf Coast Protection District’s efforts,” said Jim Blackburn, co-director of the Severe Storm Prediction Education and Evacuation from Disasters (SSPEED) Center and professor in the practice of environmental law at Rice.
“We’ve brought together the best minds from across Texas and the Netherlands to ensure this once-in-a-generation project is based on strong science, innovative engineering and a deep commitment to the communities we serve. The collaboration we’re forming today can reduce timelines and costs while delivering smarter, more efficient solutions that build lasting resilience along the Gulf Coast,” said Coalter Baker, executive director of GCPD.
On March 20, the GCPD board approved a master service agreement with Texas A&M to fund council research over the next five years and establish an executive committee with representatives from each university, GCPD, the Texas General Land Office and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
Per the agreement, other academic and governmental organizations may be added to the council in the future, including University of Houston, Texas A&M University at Corpus Christi, Prairie View A&M University, Texas State University, Rijswaterstaat (Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management of the Netherlands) and the International Network for Storm Surge Barriers.
“For more than 15 years, institutions from Texas and the Netherlands have worked together to advance a shared vision for coastal protection. Building on this strong partnership and with GCPD’s leadership, the council provides independent, science-driven expertise to support critical initiatives that will create a more resilient Texas. We are proud to serve communities in this effort to strengthen the state’s safety and prosperity,” said Sam Brody, director of IDRT.
Research conducted by the council will be done concurrently with the engineering and design activities already underway for the Galveston Bay Barrier System — the largest element of the broader Coastal Texas Project, accounting for 85% of the $35 billion authorized cost. The Gate, a historic federal initiative that will serve as the largest flood gate system in the world, and the Beaches and Dunes features are the first two components of the Galveston Bay Barrier System to move into design.