Photo contributed by the Texas General Land Office (GLO)
The Conrad Blucher Institute for Surveying and Science (CBI) at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi (TAMU-CC) recently completed the restoration of a critical environmental monitoring station in Copano Bay near Rockport, Texas following damage sustained during Hurricane Harvey. The project, sponsored by the Texas General Land Office (GLO), marks a major step in strengthening the Texas Coastal Ocean Observation Network (TCOON).
Established in 1991 by the State of Texas, TCOON is a cooperative effort of the GLO, Texas A&M University–Corpus Christi, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the Texas Water Development Board. TCOON collects coastal data to support the study, planning and management along the Texas coast.
CBI’s Research Operations team coordinated permitting to ensure compliance and oversaw the platform’s installation. The team also acquired and installed the station’s instrumentation in accordance with NOAA’s Center for Operational Oceanographic Products and Services (CO-OPS) standards. Working in close coordination with NOAA, these efforts ensure the data collected from the station is federally certified and accessible through NOAA’s Tides and Currents online.
“This project highlights the unique collaboration that makes TCOON so important to Texas,” said Devon Steffan, Assistant Director of Research Operations at CBI. “We’re proud to work alongside the GLO and NOAA to ensure that TCOON continues delivering accurate, reliable data for Texas’ coastal communities.”
Original photo contributed by Texas General Land Office (GLO).
The Copano Bay station (TCOON Station #8774513) collects real-time measurements of water level, wind speed and direction, air and water temperature, and barometric pressure. This data plays a vital role in coastal safety and resilience, supporting navigation, emergency preparedness, coastal management, and recreational use.
“CBI has played a pivotal role in maintaining TCOON for more than three decades,” said Dr. Richard Smith, CBI Executive Director. “The restoration of the Copano Bay station further strengthens our ability to deliver accurate, real-time data that supports safe navigation, informed planning, and a resilient Texas coast.”
The completion of this project reaffirms CBI’s long-standing commitment to measurement science and to collaborative innovation that empowers data-driven decision making.