Education/Awareness

History of the Lydia Ann Channel The Lydia Ann Channel was dredged in 1926 to allow ship traffic to safely pass through on voyages to and from the Port of Corpus Christi and other stops. For more history of the Lydia Ann Channel please visit the links below. http://portaransasmuseum.org/tours/history-tour-by-boat/ http://texascoastgeology.com/passes/aransas%20pass.html Why Lydia Ann Channel Fleet is here? LAC Fleet was established by a group of local businessmen who saw the need for a safe and controlled place to moor the many push boats and barges that wait to be called into the Port of Corpus Christi. With over 34 billion dollars in industrial projects in the works in the Corpus Christi Area, an increase in barge traffic in the Lydia Ann Channel is inevitable. Prior to the establishment of LAC Fleet, barges were pushed up along the banks of San Jose Island by push boats that were then forced to keep their engines running continuously so that the barges would not drift. This wasted thousands of gallons of fuel, damaged the sea grasses, and eroded the shoreline. The fleet is monitored around the clock and operates under a Coast Guard approved safety and security plan. LAC Fleet worked with the Army Corp of Engineers, The General Land Office, The United States Coast Guard, The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, National Marine Fisheries Service, The Environmental Protection Agency, Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, the Texas Historical Society, and Homeland Security to ensure that LAC Fleet fulfills a maritime need that has been lacking for years while at the same time protects the environment of Lydia Ann Channel.