A STUDY TO ASSESS THE FEASIBILITY OF INLAND CANALS AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO BAY AND RIVER MARGIN PORT AND INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT

Coastal industries are highly dependent upon water transportation. Water is an efficient means for moving raw materials to industry and for shipping finished products to markets. The development of navigation channels and associated industry in coastal waters and shorelands has destroyed vast areas of productive wetlands. The study analyzes inland canals as a method of providing navigation access without large-scale alteration of wetlands. The study substantiates the hypothesis that widespread wetland alteration is not a necessary part of coastal industry siting and navigation development. The concept was evaluated through a hypothetical case study in Brazosport, Texas. The results of the case study indicate that the inland canals are a feasible alternative to traditional navigation developments, both in terms of cost to industry and in minimizing adverse environmental, social and economic impacts. The study findings present important policy implications for accommodating industrial growth and economic viability while protecting productive coastal resources.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Sponsored in part by Texas Coastal Management Program, Austin, and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Washington, D.C. Office of Coastal Zone Management.
• Corporate Authors:

  RPC, Incorporated

  314 West 11th
  Austin, TX  United States  78701

  Texas Coastal Management Program

  Austin, TX  United States 

  National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

  Office of Coastal Zone Management, Main Commerce Building
  Washington, DC  United States  20230
• Publication Date: 1977-7

Media Info

• Pagination: 486 p.

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Canal operations; Canals; Coastal zone management; Coasts; Cost engineering; Design; Development; Economic analysis; Economic factors; Environmental impact analysis; Environmental impacts; Federal assistance programs; Industries; Inland waterways; Petroleum refineries; Plant location; Public land; Ship pilotage; Subsidies; Water transportation
• Geographic Terms: Texas
• Old TRIS Terms: Economic analysis (Coastal development); Inland waterways navigation; Refineries; Waterway transportation
• Subject Areas: Design; Economics; Environment; Marine Transportation; Policy; Terminals and Facilities;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00186644
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: National Technical Information Service
• Files: TRIS
• Created Date: Feb 27 1979 12:00AM