Permit Application No. SWG-2008-01336 was filed on May 4 with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for a proposed development at a site seven miles east-northeast of the intersection of State Highway 185 and FM 1289 in Calhoun County, Texas. The proposed development is referred to as “Powderhorn Ranch Marina on Matagorda Bay”.
The project purpose is to construct a large-scale inland marina community with waterfront lots and associated boat access on the middle Texas coast. The new community would provide recreational opportunities and convenient access to the residents of the major metropolitan areas in Central and South Texas. The proposed 183-acre multi-use development will include 244 waterfront and water-view lots, 9.24 acres of condominium space, 3.79 acres of townhome space, 2.50 acres for a proposed restaurant and marina building complex, a 37.94 acre saltwater basin with an accompanying marina and a 1,720-foot by 100-foot access channel and associated breakwaters for ingress and egress of recreational boats into Matagorda Bay.
As part of the proposed development, 418 covered boat docks of various sizes, a community boat ramp, and associated public infrastructure facilities (roadways, storm water management facilities and public utilities) are proposed. Approximately 635,000 cubic yards of soils from on-site uplands and interior freshwater wetlands will be excavated for construction of the saltwater basin and marina. Approximately 31,570 cubic yards of bay bottom sediments and unvegetated tidal fringe bottom are proposed to be excavated from Matagorda Bay for construction of the access channel.
The applicant is proposing to excavate the channels with a dragline or long reach excavator mounted on a barge. The excavated material will then be barged to land and loaded into a truck. The truck will deliver the excavated material to the site and it will be spread and incorporated into the residential portion of the site as fill.
The project is anticipated to impact 10.69 acres of jurisdictional waters of the U.S., including wetlands. A small tidal fringe wetland (0.10 acre) will be impacted as a result of the construction of the proposed access channel and breakwaters.
The complete proposal may be viewed at:
http://www.swg.usace.army.mil/reg/notice/2008-01336m.pdf
and http://www.swg.usace.army.mil/reg/pn.asp
All comments pertaining to this public notice must reach the U.S. Amy Corps office on or before June 6, 2011. Extensions of the comment period may be granted for valid reasons provided a written request is received by the limiting date. If no comments are received by that date, it will be considered that there are no objections. Comments and requests for additional information should be submitted to:
Steve Walls
Regulatory Branch, CESWG-PE-RE
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
P.O. Box 1229
Galveston, Texas 77553-1229
409-766-3125 Phone
409-766-6301 Fax
