Galveston Bay hurricane surge study, Report 2. Effects of proposed barriers on tides, currents, salinities and dye dispersion for normal tide conditions

This is the second of three reports. Migration from cities to suburban areas combined with industrial growth justifies hurricane protection for the Galveston Bay area. Models indicated two barrier schemes would protect upstream areas. Alpha barrier was located just behind the gulf beaches and gamma barrier crossed Galveston Bay 9 miles upstream. Both schemes provided gated navigation openings across channels and gated tidal passages of sufficient capacity, located to maintain existing conditions with respect to tides, currents, salinities, and dispersion patterns. Diversion of Trinity River flow to Houston, which would increase fresh water to Buffalo Bayou and decrease fresh water to Trinity Bay, is proposed. A power station will pump up to 3500 CFS of cooling water from Houston Ship Channel and Tabbs Bay via Cedar Bayou to the plant a discharge into Trinity Bay. Tests for normal tides were made in a 1:6000-, 1:60-scale model. Important conclusions were: (A) Diversions from Trinity River to Houston will have no significant effects; (B) Cedar Bayou power station will transport water which is more saline and of poorer quality from Houston Ship Channel and Tabbs Bay to upper Trinity Bay; (C) Plan 1 alpha barrier would have no significant effects on tides, currents, salinities, or dye dispersion patterns and the area of tidal passages could be reduced 20% without adversity affecting navigation; and (D) Plan 1 gamma barrier would cause slight reductions in tidal prism and salinities.