Texas Insider Report: AUSTIN, Texas – Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham, M.D., is pleased to announce the Jamaica Beach Coastal Erosion Planning and Response Act (CEPRA) project on Galveston Island. Through this CEPRA project, the Texas General Land Office (GLO) will regrade the beach with 61,000 cubic yards of beach quality sand over 3,300 linear feet of Jamaica Beach, supporting the future stability of this popular recreational area.
"As a proud Texan who called Galveston Island home for more than a decade, ensuring these beautiful beaches are strong and resilient is one of my top priorities," said Commissioner Buckingham. "Jamaica Beach is home to tight-knit communities and next door to Galveston Island State Park, a nature-filled haven. The GLO's Coastal Erosion Planning and Response Act project to nourish Jamaica Beach will fortify this essential stretch of the Texas coast against damage from future hurricanes, making communities safer and wildlife habitats more secure. I look forward to working with federal, state, and local officials to deliver another major win for the Texas coast."
The Texas General Land Office's Beach Nourishment Project at Jamaica Beach on Galveston Island
The project's current cost is $5.1 million, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is expected to reimburse the GLO for 90% of those costs. This project originated as a FEMA repair project for damage caused by Hurricane Ike. The beach will be built to an elevation of 5 ft. with an average width of 150 ft. These improvements will help the beach withstand future damage from hurricanes and severe storms.
Construction began on the west end of the beach and is moving eastward. Sections of the beach will open fully as construction is completed. Construction is not performed on nights, weekends, or holidays, and when work is not being performed, the beach is open to the public. The project is currently set to be completed in late August 2025
