Corpusfishing.com

[FlakMan]

Texas A&M University
News Release
March 31, 2006

Massive development along the Texas Gulf Coast could pose huge problems in the years to come as construction continues despite the lessons learned from recent hurricanes, said a Texas A&M University professor.

Speaking as part of a symposium on hurricanes and coast lines hosted by Texas A&M, John Jacob, a Texas Sea-Grant specialist and professor of recreation, parks and tourism sciences, said "development is increasing and it's certainly not going to stop.

"In Harris County alone, 18 percent of the prairie land was lost between 1992-2002 due to development. Not only are large ecosystems being lost, the structures being built are not built to withstand the ravages of time and nature."

Jacob said studies show that Houston will have about eight million people in the next 20 years. "That means about 1,000 square miles of land will be lost to development," he said.

"What is needed is what we call 'smart growth' - areas that are well-planned and protect our open spaces. It's an area that is a mix of people and incomes. But we're not seeing it.

"What we are seeing are areas that are habitats for cars, not for people."

Jacob cited areas around Sugar Land as a prime example of over- development that is not very well planned for future needs.

"Sugar Land is surrounded by a big levee, which most people don't know about. And we all know what can happen to levees," he said, referring to those that collapsed in New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina.

"Development in the Sugar Land area is destroying natural habitats and is not even suited for people. It's great for parked cars, but not for people."

Tom Tremblay, a professor from the University of Texas' Bureau of Economic Geology, says rising sea level rates along the Texas coastline have been increasing at alarming rates in many areas.

"The rising sea level along the Texas coast is significantly worse than most other areas in the world," he noted.

"Some of this is human induced, meaning a loss of marshes and sediment." Both are crucial if marine life is to flourish, he said.

Tremblay also said a large number of faults have been detected in the area since 1930.

"In 1930, there were 10 known faults along the Texas coast, and by the 1980s, we had counted 40," he said. "Where faults appear and where sea levels rise go hand in hand."

He said development in the lower Texas coast near the Padre Island area has destroyed many estuaries and marshes.

"There comes a time when marshes have nowhere else to go. They eventually disappear," he said.

The symposium featured the "hottest topics right now - the future of our coasts and how hurricanes and climate change are affecting our planet," said Rusty Feagin, assistant professor of forest science and one of the organizers.

"Also, the huge amount of housing development and construction work along the coastline is a big concern right now. Over- development of coastal areas is a problem for just about every state."

The Thursday symposium was sponsored by Sigma Xi, a research organization.

[rabbit]

Bet the caller times didnt print that.
_________________
Fishing and Kayaking its a rough life but somebody has to do it.

[BaitBoy]

Thanks, Flak. Forwarded to my oldest daughter who now lives in Sugarland. I did not know that little tidbit of info.