Applications of the Texas Coastal Applications of the Texas Coastal Ocean Observatory Network Ocean Observatory Network (TCOON) data for the Texas (TCOON) data for the Texas General Land Office Coastal General Land Office Coastal

ProgramsPrograms

Juan Moya PhD., P.G.Juan Moya PhD., P.G.

Coastal Resources ProgramCoastal Resources Program

Texas General Land OfficeTexas General Land Office

Jerry Patterson, CommissionerJerry Patterson, Commissioner

Texas General Land Office (GLO)Texas General Land Office (GLO)

The Republic of Texas Congress The Republic of Texas Congress established the General Land Office in established the General Land Office in 1836 shortly after Texas won its 1836 shortly after Texas won its independence. independence.

Mission is the management of state lands Mission is the management of state lands and mineral-right properties totaling 20.3 and mineral-right properties totaling 20.3 million acres. Included in that portfolio are million acres. Included in that portfolio are the beaches, bays, estuaries and other the beaches, bays, estuaries and other "submerged" lands out to 10.3 miles in the "submerged" lands out to 10.3 miles in the Gulf of Mexico.Gulf of Mexico.

Texas General Land OfficeTexas General Land Office

Jerry Patterson, CommissionerJerry Patterson, Commissioner

Texas GLOTexas GLO

GLO leases drilling rights for oil and gas GLO leases drilling rights for oil and gas production on state lands, producing production on state lands, producing revenue and royalties which are funneled revenue and royalties which are funneled into the state's Permanent School Fund. into the state's Permanent School Fund. The dividends and interest from The dividends and interest from Permanent School Fund investments go Permanent School Fund investments go into the Available School Fund, and from into the Available School Fund, and from there money is distributed to school there money is distributed to school districts on a per-pupil basis, helping to districts on a per-pupil basis, helping to offset local property taxes. offset local property taxes.

Texas General Land OfficeTexas General Land Office

Jerry Patterson, CommissionerJerry Patterson, Commissioner

TCOON-GLOTCOON-GLOGLO interested in the conservation of natural resources, GLO interested in the conservation of natural resources,

public access and safety of public infrastructure in public access and safety of public infrastructure in State public lands. State public lands.

GLO & Coastal Water LevelsGLO & Coastal Water Levels

Subsidence has vertical and horizontal implicationsSubsidence has vertical and horizontal implications

TCOON StationsTCOON Stations

TCOON ParticipantsTCOON Participants

TCOON is managed through cooperative TCOON is managed through cooperative agreements:agreements:

Texas General Land Office (Texas General Land Office (GLOGLO)) Texas Water Development Board (Texas Water Development Board (TWDBTWDB)) U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (CorpsCorps)) National Oceanic and Atmospheric National Oceanic and Atmospheric

Administration (Administration (NOAANOAA))The network is operated by the Division of The network is operated by the Division of

Nearshore Research (Nearshore Research (DNRDNR) at Texas A&M ) at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi (University-Corpus Christi (TAMU-CCTAMU-CC).).

TCOON StandardsTCOON Standards

The GLO established this water-The GLO established this water-monitoring system following a Texas monitoring system following a Texas legislative mandate in 1991.legislative mandate in 1991.

Requires that it be operated using the Requires that it be operated using the national standards and procedures national standards and procedures guidelines developed by NOAA.guidelines developed by NOAA.

These legally recognized standards and These legally recognized standards and procedures ensure that state and federal procedures ensure that state and federal agencies, academic institutions, and the agencies, academic institutions, and the general public can validate the data general public can validate the data obtained through this system.obtained through this system.

TCOON FactsTCOON Facts

The network served 7,367 absolute The network served 7,367 absolute unique visitors requesting data during unique visitors requesting data during the month of March 2008. the month of March 2008. One of the best tide systems in the US One of the best tide systems in the US coastal states.coastal states.One of the most visited coastal sites in One of the most visited coastal sites in the Gulf of Mexicothe Gulf of Mexico

                                          

                     

http://lighthouse.tamucc.edu/TCOON/HomePage

TCOON Common Users

TCOON provides critical data to TCOON provides critical data to sponsoring federal and state sponsoring federal and state agencies, the public, commercial agencies, the public, commercial shipping industry, marine shipping industry, marine construction companies, construction companies, recreational boaters, marine safety, recreational boaters, marine safety, emergency evacuations, oil emergency evacuations, oil companies, coastal engineering companies, coastal engineering companies, water and atmospheric companies, water and atmospheric modelers, planners, lawyers, and modelers, planners, lawyers, and many non-profit organizations. many non-profit organizations.

TCOON also uses data from the TCOON also uses data from the Physical Oceanographic Real-Physical Oceanographic Real-Time System (Time System (PORTSPORTS), which ), which was developed by the National was developed by the National Ocean Service (Ocean Service (NOSNOS). ).

TCOON Common UsersTCOON Common Users

Historic BackgroundHistoric Background

1988, National Ocean Service (1988, National Ocean Service (NOSNOS) ) and GLO entered into a Memorandum and GLO entered into a Memorandum of Agreement in recognition of of Agreement in recognition of common interests in the determination common interests in the determination of tidal datums and other related of tidal datums and other related activities in coastal waters of the State activities in coastal waters of the State of Texas. of Texas.

State-federal partnership created a State-federal partnership created a multi-million dollar state-of-the-art multi-million dollar state-of-the-art program, providing real-time data for program, providing real-time data for measuring and monitoring tidal measuring and monitoring tidal changes on the Texas coast. changes on the Texas coast.

                                              

                 

Historic BackgroundHistoric Background The system started in 1989 with the The system started in 1989 with the

Conrad Blucher Institute Conrad Blucher Institute for for Surveying and Science TAMU-CC Surveying and Science TAMU-CC installed three water-monitoring installed three water-monitoring stations for the City of Corpus Christi.stations for the City of Corpus Christi.

  Through partnerships among the Through partnerships among the GLOGLO, , NOAANOAA,, TAMUCC TAMUCC,, TWDB TWDB, and the , and the CorpsCorps, the system has expanded to , the system has expanded to over 50 tide gauge stations. over 50 tide gauge stations.

The number of active stations varies The number of active stations varies over time due to funding, priorities, over time due to funding, priorities, and natural events.and natural events.

Historic BackgroundHistoric Background

The Texas Legislature, by authority of The Texas Legislature, by authority of S.B. 1392 passed in 1991, designated S.B. 1392 passed in 1991, designated TCOON as an official entity of the TCOON as an official entity of the state.state.

The legislatively mandate of TCOON The legislatively mandate of TCOON is to collect data on natural processes is to collect data on natural processes affecting the Texas Coast for the affecting the Texas Coast for the purpose of studying, planning for, purpose of studying, planning for, and managing human uses of the and managing human uses of the coast as they are affected by those coast as they are affected by those natural processes.natural processes.

Statute requires participating entities Statute requires participating entities to coordinate these activities with to coordinate these activities with NOAA.NOAA.

Government officials must have Government officials must have accurate, legally defensible data accurate, legally defensible data relating to water levels and tides in relating to water levels and tides in the event of litigation resulting from the event of litigation resulting from a legal boundary dispute, imposing a legal boundary dispute, imposing beach-dune rules, enforcing the beach-dune rules, enforcing the Texas Open Beaches Act, litigating Texas Open Beaches Act, litigating collisions of vessels, deepening the collisions of vessels, deepening the Gulf Inter-Coastal Waterway, or Gulf Inter-Coastal Waterway, or litigating the collapse of a bridge or litigating the collapse of a bridge or causeway.causeway.

GLO & State StatueGLO & State Statue

The GLO Surveying, Coastal The GLO Surveying, Coastal Resources, and Professional Resources, and Professional Services divisions use TCOON Services divisions use TCOON data to establish the physical data to establish the physical boundaries for the approximately boundaries for the approximately five million acres of submerged five million acres of submerged tidelands and Gulf submerged tidelands and Gulf submerged lands that are regulated by the lands that are regulated by the GLO. GLO.

GLO Coastal Applications for TCOON Data

Accurately locate the Three-Marine Accurately locate the Three-Marine League Line, 10.36 miles offshore League Line, 10.36 miles offshore Texas, which is the boundary Texas, which is the boundary between state and federal waters.between state and federal waters.

The precise location of the The precise location of the boundary aids in calculating the boundary aids in calculating the acreage of submerged state tracts acreage of submerged state tracts leased for mineral exploration, leased for mineral exploration, which results in state revenue for which results in state revenue for the Permanent School Fund.   the Permanent School Fund.  

GLO Coastal Applications for TCOON Data

Accurately locate the state's Accurately locate the state's shoreline in order to identify shoreline in order to identify submerged state-owned land for submerged state-owned land for the proper issuance of coastal the proper issuance of coastal easements and leases easements and leases encumbering submerged land. encumbering submerged land.

Accurately measure the shoreline Accurately measure the shoreline to calculate acreage of submerged to calculate acreage of submerged state tracts leased for mineral state tracts leased for mineral exploration and development. exploration and development. Adjusted acreage may result in Adjusted acreage may result in new royalty income to the State. new royalty income to the State.

GLO Coastal Applications for TCOON Data

Identify the correct and legal Identify the correct and legal shoreline to aid in the protection of shoreline to aid in the protection of submerged state-owned land from submerged state-owned land from encroachments and illegal activities, encroachments and illegal activities, such as fill and dredging. such as fill and dredging.

Use water level data to establish the Use water level data to establish the accurate boundary between accurate boundary between submerged state-owned land and submerged state-owned land and upland private ownership for upland private ownership for projects along the Texas coast and projects along the Texas coast and in the event of boundary disputes in the event of boundary disputes resulting in litigation. resulting in litigation.

GLO Coastal Applications for TCOON Data

Monitor the highest reach of the Monitor the highest reach of the water in a high water event to water in a high water event to provide justification for the GLO provide justification for the GLO to impose emergency rules in to impose emergency rules in conjunction with state-regulated conjunction with state-regulated Beach and Dune Protection Beach and Dune Protection Rules. Rules. 

Emergency rules allow Emergency rules allow landowners to take emergency landowners to take emergency measures to restore property measures to restore property after high water or a storm event. after high water or a storm event.

GLO Coastal Applications for TCOON Data

Use wave height and direction Use wave height and direction data to collect accurate water data to collect accurate water level data to aid in the design of level data to aid in the design of beach nourishment projects.beach nourishment projects.

The location of Mean High The location of Mean High Water or Mean Higher High Water or Mean Higher High Water is needed to document Water is needed to document the state's ownership prior to the state's ownership prior to any nourishment project.  any nourishment project.  

GLO Coastal Applications for TCOON Data

Texas Natural Resources Code, Texas Natural Resources Code, Section 33.136 requires a Section 33.136 requires a boundary survey of the shoreline boundary survey of the shoreline to be completed before any to be completed before any alteration is made to the alteration is made to the shoreline. shoreline. 

The survey must be filed at the The survey must be filed at the GLO and approved by the GLO GLO and approved by the GLO Surveying Division before any Surveying Division before any beach nourishment or erosion beach nourishment or erosion response work can begin.response work can begin.

Tidal datums obtained from the Tidal datums obtained from the TCOON network are required for TCOON network are required for such a survey. such a survey.

GLO Coastal Applications for TCOON Data

Use the TCOON datum to aid in the Use the TCOON datum to aid in the documentation of beach erosion for documentation of beach erosion for planning in conjunction with beach planning in conjunction with beach protection projects. protection projects.

TCOON was recommended for CIAP TCOON was recommended for CIAP funding for $1 Million to expand, funding for $1 Million to expand, upgrade, and develop new upgrade, and develop new technologies.technologies.

GLO Coastal Applications for TCOON Data

GLO is the lead state agency for GLO is the lead state agency for preventing and responding to oil spills in preventing and responding to oil spills in marine environment. marine environment.

Create trajectory and hydrodynamic Create trajectory and hydrodynamic models to predict oil movements should models to predict oil movements should a spill occur in the Gulf of Mexico or its a spill occur in the Gulf of Mexico or its bays. bays.

Predict where oil spills will likely travel. Predict where oil spills will likely travel. Oil-spill emergency response teams use Oil-spill emergency response teams use this information to deploy clean-up teams this information to deploy clean-up teams and other resources to minimize a spill's and other resources to minimize a spill's impact. impact.

GLO Oil Spill Applications for TCOON Data

Monitor water quality in the bays Monitor water quality in the bays and estuaries, including salinity, and estuaries, including salinity, dissolved oxygen, turbidity, and the dissolved oxygen, turbidity, and the presence of brown tide. presence of brown tide.

Monitor currents in the vicinity of Monitor currents in the vicinity of roads and bridges to determine roads and bridges to determine impacts on circulation.impacts on circulation.

Dredging project planners and Dredging project planners and contractors use the data in selecting contractors use the data in selecting channel depths and disposal sites channel depths and disposal sites that will cause the least impact on that will cause the least impact on those resources. those resources.

Other Applications for TCOON Data

Using tidal measurements to drive Using tidal measurements to drive computer models for solving computer models for solving environmental and management environmental and management issues related to bays and issues related to bays and estuaries. estuaries.

Allowing utility companies to use Allowing utility companies to use tide data in monitoring circulation tide data in monitoring circulation and water quality in the vicinity of and water quality in the vicinity of cooling water intakes and cooling water intakes and discharge areas through discharge areas through hydrographic modeling and hydrographic modeling and monitoring. monitoring.

Other Applications for TCOON Data

Provides port authorities and pilots in the Provides port authorities and pilots in the shipping industry with accurate, real-time shipping industry with accurate, real-time wind, current, water level and tidal wind, current, water level and tidal information at the entrance of ship channels.information at the entrance of ship channels.

Enhances the navigation safety of Enhances the navigation safety of commercial vessels transiting, entering, or commercial vessels transiting, entering, or leaving port. leaving port. 

Provides the real-time water height Provides the real-time water height providing pilots the knowledge and ability to providing pilots the knowledge and ability to know exactly when it's safe to enter and exit know exactly when it's safe to enter and exit the port, saving considerable time, which the port, saving considerable time, which equate to millions of dollars saved. equate to millions of dollars saved.

Other Applications for TCOON Data

Where to go from here?Where to go from here?

Future NeedsFuture Needs

SuggestionsSuggestions

http://www.glo.state.tx.us/coastal/tcoon/

http://lighthouse.tamucc.edu/TCOON/HomePage

Contact InformationContact Information

Dr. Juan Moya Dr. Juan Moya 512/475-3735512/475-3735

juan.moya@glo.state.tx.usjuan.moya@glo.state.tx.us

Ms. Kathy Smartt Ms. Kathy Smartt 512/475-1552512/475-1552

kathy.smartt@glo.state.tx.uskathy.smartt@glo.state.tx.us