*1 The Attorney General of Texas Decmber 13, 1984
.JIM MATTOX Opinion No. JM-246 Houoreble Jim Mapel Su~rerrio Court Bulldln9 Criminal District Attorney ~‘. 0. Box 12549 .u*,,n. TX. 78711. 2549 Brezorie County Courthouse Be: Whether Brezorie County mey af475-2591 establish a dune protection line Angleton, Texas 77515 Telex 9101874-1357 along ite coast pursuant to -4lecopier 51214754255 63.011 of the Natural
Resources Code 714 Jackron, Suite 7W -was, TX. 752024509 Deer Mr. Mepel: !14/742-8944
You have requasted our opinion es to whether Brezoria County is authorized to cste~~l.ish a dune protection ;824 Alberta Ave., Suits 150 il Paw, TX. 79905.2793
91~533.3494 Section 63.011. of the Natural Resources Code provides: After notice end hearing. the comissioners Texas. Suite 799 court ol’ any county bordering ou the Gulf of humto”, TX. 77902.3111 Mexico that has within its boundaries a barrier 713l22M9BS island 0:: peninsula located north of the Hensfield Ship Chzmel may establish line SOS Broadway. Bulta 312 on the island or peninsula for the purpose of Lubbock. TX. 794Ola79 preserving send dunes that offer a defense against 3061747.5239 storm water end erosion of the shoreline.
4309 N. Tenth. Suite B “Barrier islend” :Ln defined es “an island bordering on the Gulf of McAllen. TX. 79501.1595 t4exico end entiw!ly surrounded by water.” Section 63.002(2). 5121682.4547 Brezoria County borders on the Gulf of Mexico end is located north of the Mansfield Ship Channel. The intercoastal canal runs the length of 200 Main Pl424. suit0 400 Brazorie County, several miles inland from the Gulf. You suggest San Antonio. TX. 792952797 “the intercoastal cane1 in e sense mekes a barrier island of 51212254191 entire county coe8tline.” In order to accept this argument es valid.
we would have to construe “veter” 63.002(2) to include e men-made body of water such es the canal. An Equal Opportunity/ Affirmative Actlon Employer
Dr. Robert Mwton. associate director of the University of Texas Bureau of Economic Geology, end en internationally kaown expert ou coastal geology WIICI has frequently testified es en expert witness for this office. has furnished information to us which indicates that e “barrier island.” in geological terms. is e lend form which fronts on en open oceen. anei which is normally bounded lendwerd by e lagoon or e8tUary. Dr. Mor,:on emphasiees that a barrier is e naturally occurring geologic:el form created by erosion over e period of time.
Honorable Jim Mepel - Pege 2 ~:.lll-246)
Furthermore. in Padre Islarid Netioael Seeshore: A Guide to the Geology, Neturel Environment, end Ristory of e Texas Barrier Island (1980) by Weise, B.R. end While!, W.A. the authors define e "barrier island" es low, nerrow separated from the
a long, mainland by a lagoon end commonly having dunes, vegetated sonea and rarshy environments extending legoonverd from the t'each.
It is clear from this informetl.ca thet a berrier irlend. in geologicel terms, wee not crested by the construction of this ertificiel canal.
See also, definitions of "berrier islend' end "barrier beech" in American Geological Institute, Glossary of Geology & Related Sciences, a Cooperative Project (1957). ?'he legisleture we8 presumebly aware.
when it enacted 63.002, et seq., the predecessor statute of section in 1973, that e "barrier island' has specific geologicel significence.
i.e., thet it is separated fra'n the meinlend by a lagoon or estuary rclther then by a men-mede cene:i.. For this reesou, we believe
legisleture, in defining "berri,er islend' 63.002(2), must have intended 'veter' to reff!r only to weter naturally surrounding such island.
We conclude therefore that, since no 'barrier island" lies within the boundaries of Brezorie Cowaty, that county is not authorized by 63.011 of the Natural Resources Code to establish a dune protection line *long ite entire coast.
Brezorie County is not authorized under section 63.011 of the Neturc.1 Resources Code to establish MATTOX - Attorney General of Texas TOI4 GREEN
First Assistant Attorney Geneml
DAVID R. RICHARDS
Executive Assistant Attorney Cenerel
RICR GILPIN
Chairmen. Opinion Co-ittee .
1'. 1103
Ronorable Jim Mepel - Page 3 (JM-246)
Prepared by Rick Gilpin
Assistent
APPROVED:
OPINION COMMITTEE
Rick Gilpin. Chairmen
Colin Carl
Susan Garrison
Tony Guillory
Jim Moellinger
Jennifer Riggs
Nancy Sutton