Orange County Coastal Storm Program Management

The Gulf Coast Protection District (GCPD) was formed in 2021 by the Texas Legislature to champion a bold vision: create a unified coastal resilience strategy for over 5,200 square miles across the Upper Texas Coast. As the non-Federal sponsor for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ (USACE) Coastal Texas and Sabine Pass to Galveston Bay (S2G) Orange County Coastal Storm Risk Management (CSRM) projects, GCPD’s mission is to reduce the devastating impact of coastal storms like hurricanes and tropical storms. The Orange County CSRM project is central to this effort, designed to protect infrastructure and communities from storm surge.

Our firm was selected by GCPD as the program manager for the Orange County CRSM project. Drawing on our deep-rooted infrastructure expertise and nine-year involvement in mitigation projects and coastal protection research and planning, we’re leading program management for the GCPD in collaboration with USACE. Our critical tasks include hydrology and hydraulics analysis, design and environmental coordination reviews, and executing Phase 1 and Phase 2 environmental site assessments. We’re performing real estate acquisition and utility relocation planning in support of GCPD’s responsibilities for the acquisition of lands, easements, right of way, relocations, and disposal areas. Our role also includes budgeting, schedule development, and maintaining the knowledge management library. 

Led by USACE, the primary mission of the Orange County element is to provide coastal storm surge protection and flood damage risk reduction for the residents and businesses within coastal hazard zones. The project includes approximately 20 miles of earthen levees, 3 miles of floodwalls, two navigation gates located at Adams and Cow Bayou, 14 pump stations, numerous roadway and railroad closure gates, and over 100 drainage structures. As part of a holistic, sustainable approach, the project also includes wetland preservation and marsh restoration to offset environmental impacts and enhance natural resources and ecological resilience. While the levee system is designed to significantly reduce flood mitigation challenges, no system can eliminate them entirely, underscoring the importance of adaptive infrastructure. 

This project isn’t just large, it’s historic. As part of the largest civil works initiative in USACE’s history, we are helping GCPD build an enduring legacy of resilience. Our nimble, multidisciplinary teams are delivering creative, cohesive solutions that reflect both the urgency of the coastal flood threat and the promise of integrated, forward-looking infrastructure.