Abstract
The Houston - Galveston area is at significant risk from hurricane induced storm surges. This paper summarizes ongoing studies on flood risk reduction for the region. Firstly, based on a simplified probabilistic hurricane surge model , the return periods of surges within the bay have been estimated. This model framework can be used to assess the effectiveness of several risk reduction interventions. Sketch- and conceptual designs have been made of a storm surge barrier in the Bolivar Roads, that would be part of the Ike Dike coastal protection concept. Such a storm surge barrier would consist of two parts, an environmental section for flow requirements (consisting of caissons with vertical gates) and a navigation section of the barrier (consisting of a barge gate), which would allow unhindered passage of navigation during normal conditions. Future questions and challenges for flood risk reduction in the Bay are identified.
Highlights
Due to economic development and climate change induced effects such as sea-level rise, the risk of flooding is rising in coastal zone
The main elements of the study consist of the development of a simplified probabilistic model to characterize the hydraulic effects of hurricanes on the open coast and within the Bay and the conceptual engineering design of a storm surge barrier in the Bolivar Roads inlet
This study has focussed on the Ike Dike, but other strategic alternatives for flood risk reduction for the region are under consideration
Summary
Due to economic development and climate change induced effects such as sea-level rise, the risk of flooding is rising in coastal zone. The Houston - Galveston Bay is at risk from hurricane induced storm surges as well. 1) (Merrell et al, 2011; see http://www.tamug.edu/ikedike/) The Ike Dike comprises a coastal protection system across the Galveston and Bolivar Islands together with a storm surge barrier in the Bolivar Roads. The Bolivar Roads is the deep-draft entrance channel to the Port of Houston Such a system would reduce or prevent inflow of the hurricane surge into the bay and reduce flood risks. The main elements of the study consist of the development of a simplified probabilistic model to characterize the hydraulic effects of hurricanes on the open coast and within the Bay (section 2) and the conceptual engineering design of a storm surge barrier in the Bolivar Roads inlet (section 3).
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