| 7:30 AM-6:00 PM, George R. Brown Convention Center: |
The Formation and Future of the Galveston/Follets/Bolivar Barrier System
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| Primary Leader: John Anderson |
| Leader(s): Antonio Rodriguez |
| Field Trip Description: This field trip will examine the Holocene evolution and coastal barriers of the upper Texas coast. The future of these barriers in light of accelerated sea level rise and reduced sediment supply, along with unbridled development, will be emphasized. We will begin the trip on Galveston Island with several stops intended to examine the natural habitats and geomorphic features of the island. Other stops will be included to view some of the efforts of humans to slow the rate of coastal retreat, including the Galveston seawall, recent development projects and beach nourishment projects. Discussion will center on the Holocene evolution of the barrier and the reasons why it stopped prograding approximately 1200 years ago and began retreating landward. In the early afternoon we will visit Follets Island, which is a small barrier that is currently retreating landward at rates of up to 4 meters per year. This will be followed by a stop at the San Luis Pass tidal delta and discussion about sand budgets. The day will end with a ferry ride across the Bolivar Roads tidal inlet and a visit to Bolivar Peninsula. |
| Field Trip will span: 1 day |
| Sponsor(s): |