Beaches and Bays
Bolivar Peninsula is home to 27 miles of sandy beaches along south side of this barrier island and to Galveston Bay and East Bay along the north side. Beaches are accessible to Canal City residents via a private walkover just across from the Canal City entrance, on HWY 87. East Bay and Galveston Bay are directly accessible by boat from the Canal City private canals that empty into the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) which empties directly into the bays.
Beaches
Canal City Beach Access
Just a few steps over the Canal City beach walkover you will find yourself immersed in sea and sky. This area of Bolivar is less crowded than the western end of the peninsula, so you can find a quiet place to listen to the waves and watch the brown pelicans fishing in the surf. Although cars are allowed on the beaches, they are not recommended on the beach due to the presence of the rare and endangered but recently-recovering Kemp's Ridley sea turtle nests on the beaches. "Gulf carts" (golf carts) are a popular alternative to cars and are in high use among locals for getting around. Crystal Beach with its crystal-like sand is a popular favorite located just a few miles west of Canal City if you are looking for more activity. Either way, take your camera and take some shots of the beautiful views and wildlife, stroll along the beach with your feet in the surf or just lay in the sun and gaze up at the clouds rolling lazily along. If you look closely and often, you will see the groups of dolphins that swim by just off the beach in their daily search for mullet and other food. And, if you are especially lucky, you will find a precious and protected sea turtle nest or a flock of black skimmers shooting along the top of the water like jets on a runway.
Walkovers and Sand Dunes
The Bolivar community has worked diligently over the last several years to build up and protect the sand dunes along its beaches. The dunes protect homes and businesses from storm surge by absorbing some of the wave energy and provide some protection from the wind. Dunes help prevent beach erosion by locking up sand that would otherwise wash down the coast. Dunes are also the first line of defense in hurricanes and tropical storms, slowing the onset of flood water and even saving property and lives. Stabilizing roots of dune vegetation make the plants growing on the dunes a powerful helper in maintaining the health of the dunes. The construction and strict use of walkovers is an important measure in protecting this vegetation and the dunes from foot traffic that would otherwise tear it apart. Canal City recognizes and values this importance and provides the walkover for its residents.
To learn more about the dunes and their importance, visit The Dune Guide website from the General Land Office.
To report destruction of dunes, or if you have any questions about dune protection or restoration, call the General Land Office Beach Access and Dune Protection Program at 1-800-998- 4GLO.
Adopt-A-Beach
Bolivar takes part in the "Adopt-A-Beach Program" run by the Texas General Land Office. You can participate by visiting the website of the Adopt-A-Beach signup.
To learn more about Texas beaches and coastal issues, visit the Coastal Issues website.
Bays
The Galveston Bay System is one of the world's richest and most productive estuaries as well as the home of the nations 3rd busiest port channel, the Houston Ship Channel. The system includes the bays and all their tributaries, where fishing, hunting, birding and boating opportunities abound. Bolivar Roads, the name given to the confluence of waterways including the ICW, the bay system and the Gulf of Mexico, is flanked by the North Jetty on Bolivar Peninsula and the South Jetty on Galveston Island. This forms the entrance to the Houston and Galveston Ship Channels for large, ocean-going ships traveling to and from the busy ports of Galveston and Houston.
Canal City Bay Access
Canal City is one of the few bayside communities with direct access to the ICW and hence bay waters. East Bay, Galveston Bay and the Gulf of Mexico are all accessible by boat directly from the private boat slip included in all Fortenberry Homes. The canals of Canal City empty directly into the ICW, a man-made canal that runs along the entire coastline of the Gulf of Mexico in the U.S. and up the east coast. The ICW was created to support the nations shipping and access to inland waterways, moving millions of tons of cargo along its 1,300 miles between Brownsville and St. Marks, Florida and beyond. But it also serves the small boats of homes built on it's banks. This canal, although active, remains a quiet spot to cruise on the lookout for migrating birds or motor through into the bays and ocean. It's also a great place to watch the ships roll by.
To learn more about the ICW, visit The Handbook of Texas Online article.
Galveston Bay Estuary System
Galveston Bay is a highly-productive nursery for oysters, bay shrimp and sport fish and is one of the greatest natural resources in the U.S. The estuary, where the Trinity River, Buffalo Bayou and inland freshwater waterways mix with the salty sea water from the Gulf provides an important environment necessary as nursery habitat for juvenile fish, and shellfish.