U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Answers Questions

                     Concerning the Re-Opening of the Mouth of the San Bernard River

Friday was cold with drizzling rain, but that did not stop 125 + people from gathering at the Brazoria Civic Center to see what the Galveston District Corps of Engineers is planning to do to reopen the mouth of the San Bernard River. The crowd sat in undivided attention to hear what they had to say.

Ben Boren (Operations Project Manager) gave a brief slide show outlining the proposed scope of work, and listed the challenges to accomplishing the task at hand. Then, Colonel David C. Weston (Commander, Galveston District U.S. Army Corps of Engineers), Arthur J. Janecka (Deputy District Engineer and Chief of Program and Project Management), Johnny Rozsypal (Chief, Operations Division), Tom Lizardo (chief of staff for Congressman Ron Paul), and Scott Sullivan (TxDOT) fielded questions from the crowd. Chaney Moore moderated the Question and Answer session. During that session, Scott Sullivan announced that TxDOT would be adding an additional $500,000.00 to the Corps of Engineers funds (4.5 million dollars) for the mouth re-opening project.

Tom Lizardo, then briefly addressed the crowd saying that no one should ever doubt that government agencies can work together to accomplish a goal. This project on the San Bernard River would never have happened without a grassroots beginning. Bi-partisan County, State and Federal elected officials worked together as a team. Friends Of the River can take pride in the fact that we worked with patience and diligence to be part of that team. Everyone involved is part of the solution.