Surge protection

Regarding “Ike Dike might not be the best surge solution” (Page A17, June 21), as a long-term resident and business owner on Galveston Bay, the proposal for the Ike Dike is the only proposal to come along that would offer the best protection from storm surge. This protection would be extended to the largest user group, both residential and commercial, and I feel this is important with the huge cost of such a project.

In addition, compared to the other proposals, it has the smallest impact on Galveston Bay. The proposal of a ring levee around Galveston does nothing for the industrial complex in the upper bay or other land owners, and the idea of a buyout of properties and everyone moving away is totally unfeasible and can be rejected with little consideration.

If, in fact we are interested in the health of Galveston Bay, there are any number of ideas that could be advanced by the people who live and work there.

The building of the Ike Dike is needed, and if we want more marshes, we should build them. If we need fish passes for migration of our seafood, we should add them to our plans. Or in fact, while we are at it, we could install the fish passes that have never been installed at the Galveston Jetties or Texas City Dike.

The Galveston Bay complex needs the surge protection. We can more than mitigate the environmental impacts if we want to. Johnny Valentino, Houston