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An exciting partnership between the City of Galveston and Texas A&M University at Galveston led to new and useful materials for residents and visitors regarding island beaches and beach access.

For the last several months, the City of Galveston's Coastal Resources Division and master's students at Texas A&M University at Galveston have been working together on various coastal projects to raise awareness in the public about beach environments and beach access.

“The directed studies course led by Dr. Ashley Ross at TAMUG exceeded expectations. Working with master's students passionate about coastal management and resources was a great experience and provided a new perspective on dune protection and beach access issues,” said Virgie Greb, Coastal Resources Specialist for the City of Galveston.

“The students' ability to communicate technical information regarding coastal issues to the general public by creating informational flyers and a comprehensive assessment of the 42+ beach access points on the island was impressive work. We look forward to continuing this partnership with TAMUG and the positive impacts it will create for the community.”

Throughout the spring semester, the Coastal Resources Division worked with the directed studies course led by Dr. Ashley Ross, an assistant professor in the Department of Marine and Coastal Environmental Science. The partnership provided the students with an opportunity to learn about how local and state governments protect and manage coastal resources, and provided the City with additional insight, new information and materials to aid outreach.

The students' projects focused on two primary areas: a comprehensive beach access assessment and creating dune protection education materials for audiences of all ages.

“The student projects this semester represent the work we train our students to do in the Masters of Marine Resource Management Program. I am thrilled to see the successful application of these skills and applaud the initiative and diligent efforts of this group of students in completion of their projects. I hope for continued collaboration between our graduate students and the city on the important issues facing our community and its coastal resources,” said Dr. Ashley Ross, Assistant Professor at Texas A&M University at Galveston.

The students presented their projects to the city at the end of the semester and many have since worked with community groups to raise awareness and share their work. Likewise, the City of Galveston will use the materials created by the students on city platforms to help educate the public about beach issues and beach access. The City of Galveston and Texas A&M University at Galveston look forward to continuing their collaborative efforts and working with future students and researchers on issues important to our community.

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