The TGLO has proposed that the CESWG become a cost-sharing 

 partner of the TCOON, through which the needs of the District for water- 

 level information can be met. The cost-sharing partnership would support 

 the backbone of primary stations (long-term observations) and subordinate 

 stations (short-term observations - on the order of 3 months to 3 years) 

 upon which the programs of all agencies would depend. The partnership 

 must also consider specific gauges and special requirements identified by 

 CESWG as necessary to conduct its missions. 



Water-level measurement needs of the CESWG in support of its 

 navigation channel maintenance, coastal engineering, and regulatory 

 functions will not always coincide with those of the state agencies of 

 Texas in their marine boundary definition and environmental modeling 

 activities. On the other hand, all potential users of water-level information 

 will require a certain backbone of primary gauges and infrastructure of 

 personnel and equipment to support their needs. It is appropriate and cost- 

 effective to share financial and technical responsibility for a combined 

 state and Federal measurement system for water level. As much as 

 possible, the water-level measurement system should address the widest 

 possible community needs while maintaining national standards. 



Objectives 



The overall objective of the present study was to define the 

 requirements or needs of CESWG for water-level and associated 

 information along the Texas coast. This report supersedes an interim 

 working report submitted to CESWG on 30 September 1996. Major 

 elements of this needs assessment are: 



a. Locate and map existing CESWG tide staffs and document existing 

 differential leveling connections with NGVD 29 for providing 

 continuity with future water-level gauging. 



b. Determine the general locations and numbers of water-level gauges 

 required to support CESWG operations. 



c. Identify the types and forms of water-level information, such as 

 method of access during ongoing dredging activities and 

 subsequent archival and retrieval methods. 



Chapter 1 Introduction 



