GALVESTON COUNTY DUNE PROTECTION

GALVESTON COUNTY DUNE PROTECTION AND BEACH ACCESS PLAN

TABLE OF CONTENTS

I. STATEMENT OF OBJECTIVES AND AUTHORITIES...................................................................................................... 1

A. General Authority.............................................................................................................................
B. Objectives........................................................................................................................................

C. Jurisdictions and Authority...............................................................................................................

D. Policy...............................................................................................................................................

E. Incorporation of State Law...............................................................................................................

1
1

2

3

3

II. DUNE PROTECTION................................................................................................................................................... 3

A. Adoption, Compliance, and Modification.........................................................................................

B. Areas Exempt...................................................................................................................................

C. Delegation of Authority....................................................................................................................

D. Dune Protection Line.......................................................................................................................

E. Acts Prohibited Without a Coastal Construction Permit....................................................................

F. Activities Exempt from Dune Protection Requirements....................................................................

G. Pre-application Process – Threshold Determination of Need for Coastal

Construction Permit ........................................................................................................................

H. Application Process..........................................................................................................................

I. Fees...................................................................................................................................................

J. Classification of Permit.....................................................................................................................

K. Application Contents........................................................................................................................

L. Special Standards for Eroding Areas................................................................................................

M. Master Planned Developments........................................................................................................

N. Variances from Federal Requirements.............................................................................................

3
3

3

4

6

6

7

8

8

9

9

11

11

12

III. REQUIREMENTS FOR ISSUANCE OF COASTAL CONSTRUCTION PERMITS.............................................................. 12

A. Issuance or Denial of Permit............................................................................................................

B. Administrative Record......................................................................................................................

C. Term and Renewal of Permits...............................................….......................................................

D. Termination of Permits.....................................................................................................................

E. Monitoring........................................................................................................................................

F. Beach Nourishment Standards..................................................…....................................................

G. Dune Walkover Standards...............................................................................................................

H. General Erosion and Flood Protection Requirements......................................................................

I. Special Projects................................................................................................................................

12
23

24

24

24

24

25

25

26

IV. DUNE RECONSTRUCTION.........................................................................................................................................
28

A. Guidelines for Improving, Rebuilding, or Repairing Dunes..............................................................
B. Permit for Improving, Rebuilding, or Repairing Dunes....................................................................

C. Specific Guidelines for Improving, Rebuilding, or Repairing Dunes................................................

28
30

32

V. MANAGEMENT OF THE PUBLIC BEACH.....................................................................................................................
33

A. General Access Standards...............................................................................................................

B. Designation of Access Ways, Parking Areas, and Beaches Closed to

Motor Vehicles.................................................................................................................................

C. Abandonments of Public Access or Parking Areas Prohibited.........................................................

D. Interfering with Access Prohibited...................................................................................................

E. Beach Closures.................................................................................................................................

F. Prohibition Against Littering.............................................................................................................

G. Prohibition on Use and Possession of Glass.....................................................................................

H. Beach Traffic Orders........................................................................................................................

I. Standards for Beach Maintenance and Other Activities....................................................................

33

33

37

37

37

38

38

38

40

VI. BEACH USER FEE PLAN...........................................................................................................................................
43

A. Beach User Fee Plan........................................................................................................................

B. Mass Gathering Permits...................................................................................................................

C. Use of Fee Revenue.........................................................................................................................

D. Free Beach Access and Access for Disabled Persons.......................................................................

E. Cooperation with Other Counties and Municipalities.......................................................................

43
44

45

45

45

VII. CIVIL PENALTIES....................................................................................................................................................
45

A. Assessment.......................................................................................................................................

B. Informing GLO..................................................................................................................................

C. Mitigating Circumstances.................................................................................................................

46
46

46

VIII. CRIMINAL PENALTIES............................................................................................................................................ 46

A. Misdemeanor...................................................................................................................................

B. Punishment......................................................................................................................................

46
46

IX. GENERAL PROVISIONS............................................................................................................................................ 46

A. Construction.....................................................................................................................................

B. Boundary Determinations.................................................................................................................

C. Beaches Presumed to be Public......................................................................................................

D. General Prohibition..........................................................................................................................

E. Appeals............................................................................................................................................

F. County Authority Retained................................................................................................................

G. Severability/Validity.........................................................................................................................

H. Headings..........................................................................................................................................

I. Receipt by Land Office......................................................................................................................

46
47

47

47

47

47

47

48

48

X. SIGNS INDICATING REGULATIONS............................................................................................................................ 48

A. Authorization to County Engineer and Road and Bridge..................................................................

B. Uniform Bilingual Beach Access Sign..............................................................................................

C. Placement........................................................................................................................................

D. Request for Placement.....................................................................................................................

48
48

48

48

XI. ENFORCEMENT......................................................................................................................................................... 48

A. Generally.........................................................................................................................................

B. Authority of Peace Officer................................................................................................................

48
49

XII. REPEAL OF CONFLICTING ORDERS........................................................................................................................

49

XIII. DEFINITIONS..........................................................................................................................................................

49

XIV. APPENDICE.......................................................................................................................................................... 57

Appendix 1 Metes and bounds descriptions supporting description of dune protection line on Bolivar Peninsula

Appendix 2 Example of recommended walkover design and excerpts from Dune Protection and Improvement Manual

Appendix 3 Agreement Between Coastal Coordination Council and Galveston County Dated March 15, 2001

Appendix 4 Map showing location of sandsocks/geotubes® constructed prior to adoption of this Order

Appendix 5 Map of beach access points on Bolivar Peninsula

Appendix 6 Map of beach access points on Galveston Island

Appendix 7 Map identifying fee and non-fee areas on Galveston Island

Appendix 8 Map identifying fee and non-fee areas on Bolivar Peninsula

® The word "geotube" is a registered trademark owned by Ten Cate Nicolon, Miratech Division.

GALVESTON COUNTY DUNE PROTECTION AND BEACH ACCESS PLAN TABLE OF CONTENTS

I. STATEMENT OF OBJECTIVES AND AUTHORITIES......................................................................................................		1
	A. General Authority............................................................................................................................. B. Objectives........................................................................................................................................ C. Jurisdictions and Authority............................................................................................................... D. Policy............................................................................................................................................... E. Incorporation of State Law...............................................................................................................	1 1 2 3 3
II. DUNE PROTECTION...................................................................................................................................................		3
	A. Adoption, Compliance, and Modification......................................................................................... B. Areas Exempt................................................................................................................................... C. Delegation of Authority.................................................................................................................... D. Dune Protection Line....................................................................................................................... E. Acts Prohibited Without a Coastal Construction Permit.................................................................... F. Activities Exempt from Dune Protection Requirements.................................................................... G. Pre-application Process – Threshold Determination of Need for Coastal Construction Permit ........................................................................................................................ H. Application Process.......................................................................................................................... I. Fees................................................................................................................................................... J. Classification of Permit..................................................................................................................... K. Application Contents........................................................................................................................ L. Special Standards for Eroding Areas................................................................................................ M. Master Planned Developments........................................................................................................ N. Variances from Federal Requirements.............................................................................................	3 3 3 4 6 6 7 8 8 9 9 11 11 12
III. REQUIREMENTS FOR ISSUANCE OF COASTAL CONSTRUCTION PERMITS..............................................................		12
	A. Issuance or Denial of Permit............................................................................................................ B. Administrative Record...................................................................................................................... C. Term and Renewal of Permits...............................................…....................................................... D. Termination of Permits..................................................................................................................... E. Monitoring........................................................................................................................................ F. Beach Nourishment Standards..................................................….................................................... G. Dune Walkover Standards............................................................................................................... H. General Erosion and Flood Protection Requirements...................................................................... I. Special Projects................................................................................................................................	12 23 24 24 24 24 25 25 26
IV. DUNE RECONSTRUCTION.........................................................................................................................................		28
	A. Guidelines for Improving, Rebuilding, or Repairing Dunes.............................................................. B. Permit for Improving, Rebuilding, or Repairing Dunes.................................................................... C. Specific Guidelines for Improving, Rebuilding, or Repairing Dunes................................................	28 30 32
V. MANAGEMENT OF THE PUBLIC BEACH.....................................................................................................................		33
	A. General Access Standards............................................................................................................... B. Designation of Access Ways, Parking Areas, and Beaches Closed to Motor Vehicles................................................................................................................................. C. Abandonments of Public Access or Parking Areas Prohibited......................................................... D. Interfering with Access Prohibited................................................................................................... E. Beach Closures................................................................................................................................. F. Prohibition Against Littering............................................................................................................. G. Prohibition on Use and Possession of Glass..................................................................................... H. Beach Traffic Orders........................................................................................................................ I. Standards for Beach Maintenance and Other Activities....................................................................	33 33 37 37 37 38 38 38 40
VI. BEACH USER FEE PLAN...........................................................................................................................................		43
	A. Beach User Fee Plan........................................................................................................................ B. Mass Gathering Permits................................................................................................................... C. Use of Fee Revenue......................................................................................................................... D. Free Beach Access and Access for Disabled Persons....................................................................... E. Cooperation with Other Counties and Municipalities.......................................................................	43 44 45 45 45
VII. CIVIL PENALTIES....................................................................................................................................................		45
	A. Assessment....................................................................................................................................... B. Informing GLO.................................................................................................................................. C. Mitigating Circumstances.................................................................................................................	46 46 46
VIII. CRIMINAL PENALTIES............................................................................................................................................		46
	A. Misdemeanor................................................................................................................................... B. Punishment......................................................................................................................................	46 46
IX. GENERAL PROVISIONS............................................................................................................................................		46
	A. Construction..................................................................................................................................... B. Boundary Determinations................................................................................................................. C. Beaches Presumed to be Public...................................................................................................... D. General Prohibition.......................................................................................................................... E. Appeals............................................................................................................................................ F. County Authority Retained................................................................................................................ G. Severability/Validity......................................................................................................................... H. Headings.......................................................................................................................................... I. Receipt by Land Office......................................................................................................................	46 47 47 47 47 47 47 48 48
X. SIGNS INDICATING REGULATIONS............................................................................................................................		48
	A. Authorization to County Engineer and Road and Bridge.................................................................. B. Uniform Bilingual Beach Access Sign.............................................................................................. C. Placement........................................................................................................................................ D. Request for Placement.....................................................................................................................	48 48 48 48
XI. ENFORCEMENT.........................................................................................................................................................		48
	A. Generally......................................................................................................................................... B. Authority of Peace Officer................................................................................................................	48 49
XII. REPEAL OF CONFLICTING ORDERS........................................................................................................................		49
XIII. DEFINITIONS..........................................................................................................................................................		49
XIV. APPENDICE..........................................................................................................................................................		57
	Appendix 1 Metes and bounds descriptions supporting description of dune protection line on Bolivar Peninsula Appendix 2 Example of recommended walkover design and excerpts from Dune Protection and Improvement Manual Appendix 3 Agreement Between Coastal Coordination Council and Galveston County Dated March 15, 2001 Appendix 4 Map showing location of sandsocks/geotubes® constructed prior to adoption of this Order Appendix 5 Map of beach access points on Bolivar Peninsula Appendix 6 Map of beach access points on Galveston Island Appendix 7 Map identifying fee and non-fee areas on Galveston Island Appendix 8 Map identifying fee and non-fee areas on Bolivar Peninsula
® The word "geotube" is a registered trademark owned by Ten Cate Nicolon, Miratech Division.