ASBPA National Coastal Conference 2024

ASBPA SWAG! The Students & New Professionals Chapter (SNP) has created conference t-shirts, koozies and stickers for sale at the National Coastal Conference.  T-shirts must be pre-ordered by July 26.

Please note that ALL items will need to be picked up at the National Coastal Conference between August 27-29. Items will be available for purchase at the SNP Chapter booth in the Exhibit Hall. Koozies and stickers will be available for purchase onsite, and pick up for pre-order t-shirts.

Take a ride around Galveston Island and learn about plans for the Corps’ largest-ever civil works project to protect the Houston-Galveston metro area – the newly authorized $34.4 B Coastal TX Protection and Restoration Project.  The tour will include stops along the Port of Galveston, walks on the beach, and an opportunity to gaze out over the Bolivar Roads inlet as some of the largest ships in the nation pass by. Discussion will focus on the threats of storm surge, climate change, and coastal erosion in detail and you’ll learn about the Corps’ solutions and the path forward.  We’ll discuss combining nature-based solutions with traditional engineering approaches to provide multiple lines of robust, redundant, and resilient features to protect the communities and enhance the environment. You’ll have the opportunity to discuss these plans with the non-federal sponsors (the Gulf Coast Protection District and the TX General Land Office) as well as several key stakeholders and learn what this project will provide to the city, the region, and the nation.

A box lunch and water will be provided.  Participation is limited to 50 registrants.  Sign-up on the Whova registration page for $100.

Airport and Transportation: Galveston is located about an hour south of Houston, Texas.
The closest international airport to Galveston is William P Hobby Airport. Located on the southern side of Houston, it’s only about 40 miles, and less than an hour if traffic cooperates. George Bush Intercontinental Airport is the largest airport, about 70 miles and 80+ minutes from Galveston. Lyft and Uber rates range from about $100+ round trip from Houston Hobby to $165+ round trip from Bush International. Fares increase during busy times. Rental car rates vary.

Transportation on Galveston Island by Trolley:
The trolley is $1 and exact change is required. A transfer between the Downtown and the Seawall Loop is included in the price. 

Seawall Loop – The trolley travels between Stewart Beach and Moody Gardens along the Seawall. East and West bound stops are available along the way. A transfer to the Downtown Loop is available at 21st St. & Seawall Blvd.

Downtown Loop – The trolley travels between The Strand and the Seawall. North & South Bound stops are available on 25th St., Postoffice Street, 20th St., and The Strand. A transfer to the Seawall Loop is available at 21st St. and Seawall Blvd.

https://www.visitgalveston.com/directory/galveston-trolley/

Trolley Publication-SUM2023_202404111601056563

You’re invited to attend the Texas General Land Office’s (GLO) 3rd Sediment Workshop. This free, one-day workshop will be held Monday, August 26th, the day before the start of the national ASBPA Conference. The workshop will include presentations on sediment access issues and challenges in Texas and also showcase work being conducted to address these obstacles. Presentations will touch on topics such as: the use of beneficial dredge material, advancements in dredge capabilities, beach nourishment successes, sediment resource location research, MPRSA, permitting, sediment access obstacles and state and federal coordination efforts. The GLO will use workshop discussions and lessons learned to aid in the development of the Texas Sediment Management Plan, which will provide guidance for future coastal restoration, resilience, and nourishment projects with sediment needs. seperate registration is required through the Texas GLO.

Click here for the current agenda.

The Coastal Zone Foundation short course focuses on understanding the reason for coastal zone management and how to ensure your project meets the guidelines. It will provide participants (coastal practitioners, professionals, consultants, consumers, government and agency representatives) an understanding of coastal zone management concepts; coastal regulations; the federal, state and local structure of CZM/Coastal Regulation and tools/methods available to apply-adapt and comply with CZM and coastal regulation.

Instructor: Aram Terchunian, First Coastal

*The short course requires a separate registration. Cost is $100 for professionals and $50 for students.

All presenters: Please review the following information on the National Coastal Conference presentation procedures and FAQ.

Information for speakers

“We recognize the enduring relationship and intimate connection that exists between indigenous peoples and their ancestral lands and waters. The region from Galveston, Texas to Corpus Christi, Texas are the ancestral and current homelands of the Karankawa, Lipan Apache, Ishak (also known as Atakapa), Cotoname, and other tribal and detribalized peoples from before recorded history to the present day. We express gratitude to these peoples who have stewarded these lands and waters since the beginning of time. It is because of these indigenous caretaker stewards that we can gather here today, and we acknowledge this land we stand upon as sacred, historical, and significant to the Karankawa Kadla peoples and relatives. We invite all to learn the true history of the lands on which we reside, and we ask that you treat these lands and waters with dignity and respect, as you would your own relative.”

Source: Jen Barker
Resource: https://karankawas.com/about/