martin county florida, artificial reef program

Martin County Artificial Reef Program

Kathy FitzPatrick, P.E., Coastal Engineer

A unique location…

Florida and Subtropical Counter CurrentsTropical and temperate faunaPelagic speciesLarval transport

Estuary - Lagoon SystemImportant nursery habitatsSystem results in highest

number of marine and estuarine fish in North America

The St. Lucie InletThe vital link between

systemsAdults come in to spawnJuveniles transition to

offshoreFlushing action keeps

estuary healthy

OffshoreReef lines

Composed of rock outcropSupport growth of attaching organisms

Algae, Soft corals, Sponges, Hard corals, Hydroids, Polychaete worms and more

Hard substrate provides shelter and food for reef fishes

OffshoreSand and shell hash

Comprises up to 95% of bottom surface inside 150 ft.

Home to 3 commercially important invertebrates Rock shrimp, pink shrimp and golden crabs

Important food source to many reef fish “halo effect”

Perfect substrate for artificial reef deployment Currently permitted sites comprise less that 0.1%

of soft bottom

EstuariesSt. Lucie River historically productive oyster

habitatLost 95% of oyster population in last 40 years

Indian River Lagoon transformedSeawalls and hardened shorelinesImpoundment of mangroves for mosquito

control Important juvenile habitat lost Major impact on bird population – nothing to eat!

Socioeconomic Value of ReefsIn Martin County

Annual public expenditure $7.2 millionSupports over 100 jobsResults in approximately $3.2 million in

income

What is an

Artificial Reef?

It is……

… one or more objects of natural or human origin deployed purposefully on the sea floor to influence physical, biological or socioeconomic processes related to living marine resources. (Seaman, 2000)

• Individual Units– each unit provides surface areas & void

spaces all by itself– each individual unit must be stable

Types of Artificial Reefs

• Rubble Mound (Stacked) Units– spaces between units provides void

spaces– interlocking of units promotes stability

EngineeringDesign Factors

water depth - structure purposeunit size - weight, stability,

anchoringvertical & horizontal reliefsurface area & void spacesdurability & longevitywaves , currents, and tidesscour, deposition, settlement

Acceptable MaterialsNatural Florida RockCustom Fabricated Units

Concrete - new or waste, w/wo additivesWaste Disposal (material of opportunity)

Metals - ships, planes, etc.Concrete structures –bridge material, culverts,

construction debris, etc. Hybrids

materials of opportunity combined into reef units

Custom Artificial Reef Units

Recycled Materials

Composite Units

Acknowledged the: “Growing recognition of the potential of artificial reef as management tools for yielding long-term benefits to both the resource and the resource user.”

Florida Artificial Reef Development Plan, 1992

Martin CountyArtificial Reef Program

Goal: Help a struggling environmentRestore lost resourcesCreate additional fishery habitatReduce pressure on existing natural reefs by

providing alternative recreational destinationsFuel a “green” economic engineProtect the Martin County way of life

Martin County’s Reef Sites

Program ElementsConstruction of artificial

reefsMonitoring

MappingFish countBenthic identification

Project assessmentPublic EducationGrant acquisition

Donaldson ReefSite

Mapping

Donaldson Reef Site

ErnstReef Site

ErnstReef Site

Sirotkin Reef Site

SirotkinReef Site

South County Reef SiteNewest Reef SiteFFWCC

Construction Grant$60,000 in grant

fundsRecycled material6-8 low relief sites

Coming

Soon

Nearshore Reefs

Mi

The loss of hard substrates has impacted the population of … benthic species…

As living reefs grow, They attract other fish and shellfish by providing food and shelter.Indian River Lagoon – South Feasibility Study

Estuary Restoration

Oyster Restoration

Oyster Reefs

Filter impurities______Gallons/

day!!Provide habitatStabilization

Reef Ball Construction

Reef Ball Deployment

Photos 2006 by Kerry Dillon, Marine Consultant

. . . and a shrimpbut not big enough for dinner

sponges, algaeand tunicates . . .

One year later……

A hands-on learning experience in which students explore and investigate ecosystems of south Florida, focusing on the Indian River Lagoon and Martin County.

Camp W.E.T. Is:

Community Involvement

Martin County Anglers Club Artificial Reef fund 501.c.3 non-profit

Martin County Anglers Club

Stuart Sailfish Club Safari 1 Deep Sea

Fishing Marine Industries

Marine Industries of the Treasure Coast

Education

Other ProjectsBathtub Beach

August 17th, 2006

October 5th, 2007

November 12th

September 29th, 2007

Other ProjectsBathtub BeachSt. Lucie InletManatee PocketHutchinson Island Beach Project

Nearshore Reefs

• Nearshore reefs are constructed with pilings from the Evans Crary Bridge

• … at NO COST to Martin County

May 5th 2007 September 30th 2007

October 1st 2007

May 9th 2007 September 1st, 2007

September 30th, 2007

October 1st, 2007

Evans Crary Bridge

Artificial ReefsMartin County

Nearshore - Site 3Nearshore - Site 2

Donaldson ReefSirotkin Reef

Ernst Reef

Nearshore - Site 1

ernst

Martin County’s “Plan”

"Who let the Reef Balls Out?"Bridget ConnerThe Walker School

"I felt like I was making a difference when I helped constrct a Reef Ball."Katey Ceccarelli

The River Reefs Project is just one aspect of the Martin County Artificial Reef Plan (MCARP).

The MCARP is part of the State of Florida’s

initiatives to restore and enhance our marine resources.

These initiatives are a part of the great world-wide movement to sustain and maintain the oceans of our earth and all the vital resources connected to it.

By becoming a participant of our River Reefs Project, you will be doing your part in aiding the preservation of our oceans, which contribute much of the living forces for sustaining our world.

Reef by Darrin(Grade 5/K)

Thank You

Martin County Coastal Engineering Divisionwww.martin.fl.us/GOVT/

Types of Artificial ReefsIndividual Units

each unit provides surface areas & void spaces all by itself

each individual unit must be stableRubble Mound (Stacked) Units

spaces between units provides void spaces

interlocking of units promotes stability

Ship Disposal for Artificial Reefs

Deployment of Concrete Tetrahedrons

Colonization of Tetrahedron Reefs

Donaldson Reef

Inlet Rock Site

Ernst Reef

Evans Crary Bridge

Sirotkin Reef

Tetrahedron Site

Reef Balls

Stresses to the LagoonPopulation

increase“Improvements”Freshwater

discharges and runoff

Exotic invasive species

Responsible Management

Plan

Study

Observe

Pressures on Natural Reefs

OverfishingBoatsDivingAlgal bloomsSedimentatio

n

Composite Units

Reef Ball

Visit www.martinreefs.com for more information on our Artificial Reef Program