View from above of the entrance to Port Mansfield’s harbor
Port Mansfield Harbor of Opportunity
Authorized Depth Restored from Jetties to Harbor
RAYMONDVILLE, TX, UNITED STATES, July 23, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — The Willacy County Navigation District (WCND) is pleased to confirm that the dredging effort along the Port of Port Mansfield channel has been finished. Starting at the jetty mouth on the Gulf of Mexico side and extending westward through the navigation channel, the Intracoastal Waterway intersection, the Harbor, and into the turning basin, the full authorized depth has been reinstated. This achievement represents one of the most consequential infrastructure developments in the Port’s modern history and sets Port Mansfield up for increased maritime operations, stronger commercial prospects, and ongoing support for the recreational and commercial fishing sector that underpins life in Willacy County.
Project Extent
The Port Mansfield Navigation Channel, a man-made waterway built in the late 1950s and kept up as a federal project, is the only direct link between the Gulf of Mexico and the Port. Over time, natural shoaling lowered navigable depths, limiting vessel movement and raising operational hazards. The recently completed maintenance dredging brought the channel back to its approved dimensions—roughly 17 feet deep and 125 feet wide—over the entire stretch from the jetties through the Harbor and turning basin. Dredged material was applied to beneficial uses such as beach and dune nourishment, habitat improvement, and confined placement, following current best practices.
Financing and Federal Collaboration
The project was enabled by federal funding obtained after continued advocacy by WCND leadership. In 2024 the District received substantial Work Plan funds from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Galveston District. The primary construction contract—a $21.4 million firm-fixed-price award to Callan Marine Ltd.—was funded using fiscal year 2025 Department of Defense operation and maintenance appropriations. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Galveston District acted as the contracting entity. Permits were secured after thorough environmental review, and work advanced on schedule toward the July 31, 2026 completion deadline.
Responsible Oversight by the WCND Board
Over the multi-year effort, the WCND Board of Commissioners kept a steady focus on Harbor development and long-term upkeep. Chairman Eric Kennedy, Commissioners Ernesto “Lefty” Cavazos, Stacey Reyes, Steve Kendrick, and Alberto Treviño provided consistent supervision, making sure the project moved forward with attention to safety, environmental protection, and fiscal responsibility. Their stewardship kept the District aligned with federal partners, engineering consultants, and local stakeholders while protecting the Lower Laguna Madre ecosystem that makes Port Mansfield distinctive.
Capabilities Restored and Future Prospects
Now that the authorized depth is back, the Port of Port Mansfield can once again reliably handle small commercial vessels, recreational offshore fishing, and other commercial maritime interests. The facility is located just one mile from the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway, provides more than 1,500 acres of leasable land for commercial and mixed-use development, and includes on-site airport access. These features open up possibilities for expanded short-sea shipping, logistics support, light manufacturing, fuel and material transfer, commercial fishing operations, and marine-related services.
As South Texas commerce continues to expand—especially at the nearest deep-water and river facilities in the Port of Brownsville and the Port of Harlingen—available water-to-land transfer capacity is becoming increasingly tight. Port Mansfield is positioned to become a valuable complementary asset, offering accessible draft, available land, and a strategic location that can absorb demand for maritime traffic, recreational charter support, and smaller-scale commercial movements.
Professional Performance and Environmental Stewardship
Callan Marine Ltd. carried out the work professionally and without any reported safety incidents. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers provided essential technical and contracting support. WCND Commissioners exercised diligent oversight. The project incorporated rigorous environmental measures, including seagrass surveys, hydrodynamic modeling, avoidance of sensitive habitats, and beneficial use of dredged material for coastal resilience rather than simple offshore disposal. These steps reflect a commitment to best dredging practices that protect the very resources—clean water, healthy fisheries, and natural shoreline—that sustain the Port and its community.
Quotes from Leadership
Commissioner Stacey Reyes (Precinct 2):
“We live here. We fish here. We understand what’s at stake. This project restores more than a navigation channel, it strengthens our local economy, supports our commercial and recreational fishing industries, and reflects our commitment to protecting the Laguna Madre while preparing for responsible growth.
Chairman Eric Kennedy and fellow Commissioners have emphasized that completing this critical capital improvement demonstrates the Board’s long-standing priority: maintaining the Harbor as a reliable economic and recreational asset for all of Willacy County while preparing it for responsible future growth.
Oscar Montoya Sr., Executive Director, Willacy County Navigation District:
“Coming on board mid-project gave me a clear view of both the challenges already overcome and the opportunity still ahead. The channel is now a better, safer, more reliable harbor. Looking forward, our focus is on translating this restored depth into tangible benefits—supporting the commercial and recreational fishing fleets that are the heart of this community, attracting new maritime and logistics users, and developing the Port’s available land in a way that strengthens Willacy County’s economy while protecting the Laguna Madre. The Board’s stewardship got us here. Now we build on it.”
Looking Ahead
The completion of the channel dredging project is not an endpoint; it is a foundation. With authorized depth restored from the jetties to the turning basin, the Port of Port Mansfield stands ready to serve growing maritime commerce, sustain the charter and commercial fishing industries that so many families depend upon, and welcome carefully planned commercial development. Through responsible Board leadership, strong federal partnerships, and professional execution, the WCND has delivered a critical improvement that will serve Willacy County for years to come. The Port of Port Mansfield is our Port of Opportunity and is open for the future.
WCND Team
Willacy County Navigation District
+1 9568375353
vlomas@willacynavigation.gov
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