What's the deal with Rollover Pass?

[AntlerCollector]

I haven't seen any new threads about it on here. Can someone in the know please tell us what's going on, and why?

[Mexico]

Fencing it off by the end of the month, will be filled in by April. It's allowing roo much silt into the intracoastal and they're spending way too much state funding dredging it out. Also it's allowing the salinity levels to stay high in an ordinarily low level part of the bay. This has caused havoc on the oyster populations.

This is what I've heard anyway, don't shoot the messenger.

[Canoe1]

I thought they decided a few years back to let nature take it's course. I guess they have still been keeping it open.

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[waterdog]

TEXAS GENERAL LAND OFFICE ANNOUNCES CONTRACTOR FOR ROLLOVER PASS CLOSURE

GALVESTON, TEXAS – Today, the Texas General Land Office announced the award of contract for the closure of Rollover Pass, Bolivar Peninsula to Brizo Construction, LLC. The notice to proceed will be issued on September 9th, 2019. Fencing is expected to be installed by the end of September. At this time, construction on the pass is expected to continue through April 2020.

The closure of Rollover Pass was authorized by the Texas Legislature in 2009, under Senate Bill 2043. Rollover Pass is a man-made strait. It was cut into the Bolivar Peninsula in 1955 by the Texas Game and Fish Commission (which is now Texas Parks & Wildlife) at the peninsula’s narrowest point. The pass connected the Gulf of Mexico with Rollover Bay and was intended to improve water quality and salinity in the bay and help with fish migration while also improving local fishing conditions.

Unfortunately, the Pass has created a number of damaging side effects that threaten public and private property and cost Texas and U.S. taxpayers hundreds of thousands of dollars every year. Costly erosion, environmental damage, storm threats, and safety concerns have plagued Rollover Pass for years. Flow velocity threatens the State Highway 87 bridge, which is the only land access to the Bolivar Peninsula and the primary hurricane evacuation route. The closure of the Pass will address the issues above, in addition allowing nearby estuaries to return to their natural state and strengthen natural fish and oyster habitats.

Following the closure of the pass, a public park and recreational area are proposed, including a fishing pier on the gulf side of the peninsula. The projects would be built as soon as possible. The GLO is currently in the pier permitting process with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

[AntlerCollector]

I've heard rumors of a casino also having to do with it. Idk.

[BowSlayer]

Wonder where all the money went they stole from people that went there to fish that was supposed to be used for legal purposes to keep it open? Last time I went there to fish this guy zooms up on a golf cart and demands money to fish there. I told him to pound sand. Everywhere you go somebody has their hand out for money.

[Dale Moser]

Wonder where all the money went they stole from people that went there to fish that was supposed to be used for legal purposes to keep it open? Last time I went there to fish this guy zooms up on a golf cart and demands money to fish there. I told him to pound sand. Everywhere you go somebody has their hand out for money.

We never had to pay to fish there… And I got checked by a game warden one time.


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[Mexico]

Wonder where all the money went they stole from people that went there to fish that was supposed to be used for legal purposes to keep it open? Last time I went there to fish this guy zooms up on a golf cart and demands money to fish there. I told him to pound sand. Everywhere you go somebody has their hand out for money.

Lol.. I would have told him to kick rocks! Crazy!

[Hunteraudit]

Wonder where all the money went they stole from people that went there to fish that was supposed to be used for legal purposes to keep it open? Last time I went there to fish this guy zooms up on a golf cart and demands money to fish there. I told him to pound sand. Everywhere you go somebody has their hand out for money.

My understanding is that is private property and some rod n gun club owns the land and charges a $5 fee.

Edit: this was old info; apparently they sold it for a bundle a couple years ago.

[DUKFVR]

Should have thrown him in the pass. Fishing is free there.

[BowSlayer]

Should have thrown him in the pass. Fishing is free there.

They had signs up back then saying the charge was for legal fees to keep it open. If you fished there you were supposed to pay. The signs are down and it’s free again now.

[LuBowhunter]

Fence goes up next couple weeks and fill in begins in October.


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[Mayhem]

Listening to the outdoor show this morning and Capt Mickey said it will be officially closed and fenced off by the end of September and the fill in will be completed April 2020.

[batmaninja]

It was man made, money had to be spent to dredge it and keep it open. Curious on the casino angle ?

[marshhunter]

It was man made, money had to be spent to dredge it and keep it open. Curious on the casino angle ?

Something about trying to get gambling to Galveston because of it being an island. With Rollover pass technically making Bolivar Peninsula an island, it would then allow casinos to come into Bolivar and not keep them in Galveston.
At least that is the gist of what a theory on the Facebooks