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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The Little Bay Restoration Initiative is working to |
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revive and preserve the coastal resources of Aransas County, and |
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this vital effort is truly worthy of special recognition; and |
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WHEREAS, On August 25, 2017, Hurricane Harvey made landfall |
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along Aransas Bay, bringing heavy rains, high winds, and a |
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four-foot storm surge, resulting in nearly $950 million in damage |
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to the county; Little Bay is an inlet of Aransas Bay, with Fulton to |
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the north and Rockport to the south, and it receives stormwater |
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runoff from Tully Creek and 11 storm drains; the hurricane |
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accelerated the accumulation of sediment in this system, creating |
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higher water elevation and lower flow of runoff; and |
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WHEREAS, The Little Bay Restoration Initiative seeks to |
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improve drainage and stabilize and protect the shoreline from wave |
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energy and storm surge, in order to reduce coastal erosion and |
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prevent the flooding of area businesses, homes, and infrastructure; |
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moreover, the initiative will help protect habitats from coastal |
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erosion and bolster the ecotourism economy; and |
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WHEREAS, An integral part of the Aransas County Long Term |
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Recovery Plan, the initiative is also a Tier I project of the Texas |
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Coastal Resiliency Master Plan of the Texas General Land Office; it |
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is a collaborative effort of Aransas County, the City of Rockport, |
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the Town of Fulton, and the Aransas County Navigation District, |
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with invaluable support from state and federal agencies such as the |
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Texas Division of Emergency Management and the Federal Emergency |
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Management Agency; and |
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WHEREAS, The project benefits from the leadership of Aransas |
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County Judge C. H. "Burt" Mills Jr., Rockport Mayor Patrick R. Rios, |
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Fulton Mayor Kelli Cole, and Aransas County Navigation District |
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Chair Malcolm Dieckow; and |
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WHEREAS, In the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey, the |
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hardworking public officials of the region have responded to the |
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challenges of recovery with fortitude and a spirit of cooperation, |
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and they may indeed take great pride in their ongoing efforts to |
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restore and preserve Little Bay; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 87th Texas |
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Legislature hereby commend the Little Bay Restoration Initiative |
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and extend to all those associated with the endeavor sincere best |
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wishes for continued success in their important work; and, be it |
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further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for the partners in the Little Bay Restoration Initiative |
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as an expression of high regard by the Texas House of |
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Representatives. |