By JACQI LEYVA-HILL
Special to the PRESS
The South Padre Island Shoreline Task Force voted March 10 to recommend moving forward with a coastal monitoring project aimed at improving how the city tracks changes to its beaches and dunes.
The meeting was held at City Council Chambers, where members reviewed a proposal funded through the Texas General Land Office’s Coastal Erosion Planning and Response Act (CEPRA) program. The project would expand the city’s current annual beach surveys into more frequent, seasonal monitoring.
Shoreline Director Kristina Boburka presented the item, explaining that while the city already conducts yearly surveys, the data can be inconsistent and limited in showing how shoreline conditions change over time.
“This would allow us to look not just year to year, but seasonally, and better understand what’s happening across the entire system,” Boburka said.
Boburka said the shift to seasonal surveying would provide more consistent data and allow the city to track shoreline changes throughout the year, rather than relying solely on annual snapshots. The expanded approach is expected to offer a clearer picture of how beaches and dunes respond to weather patterns, storms, and seasonal conditions.
The proposed work includes collecting detailed data on beach and dune conditions using LiDAR technology, which involves drone-based mapping to capture highly accurate elevation and topographic information. The project would also extend offshore to include bathymetric (underwatermapping) measurements, allowing officials to study conditions out to the “depth of closure,” the offshore point where wave activity no longer significantly moves sand and directly influences shoreline change.
Officials said the technology can also provide insight into dune health, including identifying vegetation and assessing whether dune systems are stable or in decline. That level of detail could help guide future restoration efforts and improve long term coastal management planning.
According to staff, the city issued a request for qualifications and received one submission from RCOAST, Inc., a coastal monitoring firm with prior experience working on South Padre Island dune restoration efforts, including seasonal and pre- and post-storm monitoring using LiDAR and other data collection methods. Boburka noted RCOAST previously conducted monitoring work for a city dune restoration project and presented its findings to officials in December 2024.
Task force members who participated in the evaluation echoed that assessment during the meeting. Vice Chairman Abbie Mahan said she was impressed with the firm’s previous work and presentation. Chairman Stormy Wall also described the firm as “very impressive,” while noting he had initially questioned whether there would be any issues with receiving only one submission. Staff indicated no concerns with proceeding, citing the firm’s qualifications and strong references.
Members also highlighted the value of being able to collect data before and after major storm events, which could support future funding applications and coastal management decisions.
Despite receiving only one proposal, members agreed the firm met all qualifications outlined in the request and expressed confidence in moving forward.
Following discussion, the task force unanimously approved a motion to recommend the firm to the City Council for final consideration.
The recommendation will now move to the City Council for further action. Officials also noted the city’s parking survey remains open through April, with a public open house scheduled for March 31 in City Council Chambers.