July Commerce Club Moderated Discussion with Coalter Baker and Roger Guenther, GCPD

Coastal Texas Project: Where it Stands and What's Ahead for the Ike Dike

The Greater Houston Port Bureau presented a moderated discussion on the progress of the Coast Protection Project with Coalter Baker, executive direct of the Gulf Coast Protection District ("GCPD") and Roger Guenther, president of the GCPD board of directors at the Port Bureau's July Commerce Club luncheon. Bob Sanders, vice present of Enterprise Products Partners, served as moderator. Baker and Guenther highlighted the progress, funding, design, and potential long-term impact of Coastal Protection Project on the region.

Created in 2021, the Gulf Coast Protection District is a non-federal sponsor working to advance two large-scale projects led by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (“USACE”): Sabine Pass to Galveston Bay Project - Orange County and Port Arthur and the Coastal Texas Project - Galveston Bay Barrier System and Galveston Bay Shoreline and Island Protection. Of these, the Coastal Texas Project is the largest coastal storm-surge protection effort in U.S. history. It combines engineered barriers with nature-based features to protect the upper Texas coast.

The Galveston Bay Barrier System component of the Coastal Texas Project, also known locally as the “Ike Dike,” includes seven unique features that is a combination of engineered solutions and natural defenses. Of these features, two moved into design in 2025: The Gate (Bolivar Roads Gate System) and the beaches and dunes system of Boliver and West Galveston Beach.

HDR, Inc., was selected to work on the beach and dune system and Jacobs Engineering to work on the Boliver Roads Gate System. The beach project could begin within five years and includes a double-dune system and an extension of the beach. Jacobs is expected to have an implementation plan for the gate system in 2027.

“They [the gates] are much more complex, obviously, given the amount of traffic coming in and out of the Ship Channel,” said Baker. “I can say with certainty that we won't be building anything that the Pilots can't maneuver through. The Pilots are actually going to be on our design team with Jacobs. We've set up an industry advisory committee with some members here to make sure that anything we're designing, folks are able to have input all along the way.”

The biggest challenge is securing funding. The Galveston Bay Barrier System, the largest element of the Coastal Texas Project, accounts for 85% of the total $35 billion authorized cost. Congress formally authorized all elements of the Coastal Texas Project to advance into design with the Water Resources Development Act of 2022. As of 2026, the Texas Legislature has appropriated $950 million to GCPD to advance its projects.​ Congress authorized the appropriation of $7.25 million to the Coastal Texas Project, of which $6.75 million is for the Galveston Bay Barrier System. $10.6 million is proposed for the FY2027 USACE investigations account.

Speakers stressed that continued support from both the state and federal governments as well as the business community are essential. GCPD is developing a stakeholder letter for companies and organizations to sign in support of additional funding and advocacy efforts in Austin and Washington, D.C.

“The important thing is to start and get the design in order and have something, even if it's a piece of it. That's beneficial alone. Shovel ready! A lot of times supplemental funds come from that as well,” said Guenther. “It's very important what we're doing with this momentum – starting the design of both the gates and the beach dunes along the shore.”

As projects move forward, Baker and Guenther said the top priorities are collaboration with stakeholders on design that accommodates the growth of infrastructure on the waterway and funding.

“It has to be buildable from a cost standpoint, and it has to work. That's how we're gonna get there: through the collaboration,” said Guenther.

Thank you to our Sponsors!

Annual Sponsors:

Buffalo Marine Service, Inc. • Callan Marine • Chevron/Kirby • Energy Transfer • Enterprise Products Partners • Kinder Morgan • Houston Pilots • Intercontinental Terminals Company • Moran Shipping Agencies, Inc. • PEMEX Deer Park • Port Houston  • Targa Resources • TGS Cedar Port Industrial Park • Vopak   • WGMA 

July Sponsors:

Houston Mooring, Inc. • Great Lakes Dredge & Dock Company • Lloyd Engineering, Inc. •  Schröder Marine Services, Inc.