Private foundation, local governments fill funding gap in hurricane grant monies needed to build two boat ramp facilities
-
Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation announces funding to rebuild public boat ramps at Sabine Lake.
Thanks to a $250,000 donation from Cheniere Foundation and funding from the City of Port Arthur and Jefferson County, Sabine Lake boaters and anglers will soon have access to two new and improved boat ramp facilities, reports Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation.
The Broadway boat ramp and the Mesquite Point boat ramp were badly damaged by Hurricane Harvey in 2017. Federal dollars from NOAA’s Hurricane Harvey Disaster Recovery fund were made available a few years ago, but rising costs created a funding gap that has been filled with private dollars and local public funds.
During the week of Aug. 1, the Port Arthur City Council approved $1 million for the Broadway boat ramp, and Cheniere Foundation committed $125,000 for the $2.3 million project. Earlier this year, the Jefferson County Commissioners Court approved up to $650,000, and Cheniere committed $125,000 for the $1.3 million Mesquite Point boat ramp. The rest of the funds will come from the Hurricane Harvey Disaster Recovery fund.
“We are proud to support the reconstruction of two pivotal boat ramps in Jefferson County,” said Maas Hinz, Vice President and Plant Manager of Cheniere’s Sabine Pass facility. “These boat ramps ensure community members have safe access to our waterways and support our local marine emergency services.”
Both boat ramps are decades old. The Broadway boat ramp into Sabine Pass is the major launching point for anglers who want to access the Gulf of Mexico. Besides upgrading the three ramps there to accommodate deeper-hulled boats, it will also be enhanced with amenities including a covered fish cleaning station and a floating dock for easier access. The Mesquite Point ramp at the base of the causeway between Louisiana and Texas is a major access point into Sabine Pass and Sabine Lake. A new facility will provide two new ramps and the structure will be modified to better withstand swift currents.
“These new facilities will be a huge improvement for boaters and anglers who want to enjoy the water and fisheries resources of Sabine Lake and the Gulf of Mexico,” said Carey Gelpi, Ecosystem Leader for the Sabine Lake Field Station. “We are grateful that Cheniere and local elected officials understand and appreciate the value of these boat ramps to the local community and all those who visit.”
Gelpi says he is hopeful the ramps will be completed in time for the 2023 boating season.
About Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation
Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation raises private funds to advance Texas’ proud outdoor traditions and conserve the state’s wildlife, habitat, recreational areas and natural resources. Since 1991, Texas Parks and Wildlife Foundation has invested more than $220 million in efforts to ensure that all Texans, today and in the future, can enjoy the wild things and wild places of Texas.