ESTABLISHMENT OF VEGETATION FOR SHORELINE 
STABILIZATION IN GALVESTON BAY 
by 
J. D. Dodd and J. W. Webb 
I. INTRODUCTION 
1. Purpose of Study. 
Texas has 1,800 miles of bay and gulf shorelines and 2,100 square 
miles of shallow bays and estuaries. This coastal zone is inhabited by 
nearly one-third of the population of Texas and nearly one-third the 
total industry in Texas (Fisher, et al., 1972). Thus, a considerable 
concern exists for a solution to the shoreline erosion problem in the 
Texas gulf coast zone. 
Structural solutions to eroding shorelines are expensive in cost 
and environmental impact. Use of vegetation to stabilize eroding shore- 
lines should be less costly and of greater benefit to marine organisms, 
birds, and the associated environment than structures. Natural estab- 
lishment of vegetation along the shorelines of Galveston Bay seems to be 
prevented by wave action. Thus, artificial revegetation is necessary. 
This study was started to characterize available endemic plant 
materials and to determine growth requirements for establishment on 
representative shoreline sediments along the upper Texas coast. The 
four specific objectives were: (a) to isolate candidate planting 
materials known or believed to have utility for shoreline stabiliza- 
tion; (b) to field test candidate planting materials on sites typical 
of shorelines along the upper Texas coast; (c) to refine present know- 
ledge on germination requirements, planting technology and stand manage- 
ment of selected plants; and (d) to compile a preliminary performance 
estimate equating time requirement and accomplishment for particular 
operations. 
2. Previous Work. 
Few reports are available on the establishment of vegetation along 
coastal shorelines. Two reports, Phillips and Eastham (1959) and Sharp 
and Vaden (1970), describe the sloping and planting of shorelines along 
tidal rivers in Virginia. These plantings were only partially success- 
ful. Sharp and Vaden concluded that smooth and salt meadow cordgrasses 
were the best adapted plants for stabilizing this eroding beach area. 
Other reports have dealt mainly with stabilization of dredged material 
and creation of salt marshes. Larimer (1968) reviewed the literature 
and discussed the possibilities for creating salt marshes in the 
estuaries of the Atlantic and gulf coasts but did no field work. 
