Final Environmental Statement, Gulf Intracoastal Waterway, Chocolate Bayou, Texas

The proposed Federal action is improvement of the existing shallow-draft Chocolate Bayou, Texas navigation channel in Brazoria County, Texas and construction of a saltwater barrier in the bayou upstream of Liverpool, Texas. The proposed channel improvements consist of enlarging and periodically maintaining the existing locally constructed channel in Chocolate Bayou and the lower reaches of Chocolate Bayou to a depth of 12 feet over a bottom width of 125 feet for a distance of 8.2 miles from its connection with the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway (GIWW). Materials dredged in construction and future maintenance of the project channel will be deposited in leveed land disposal areas. The proposed saltwater barrier will be fixed, low-level weir type structure constructed in the natural stream about 16.9 miles above the GIWW. (8.7 miles upstream of proposed channel improvement termination). The barrier will have a crest elevation of 1.63 feet above mean sea level and will include a mechanical boat lift for transporting small craft over it. Material excavated during saltwater barrier construction will be disposed of in areas on adjacent banks of the bayou and will be graded to drain.