Coastal Conservation Association donates $110,000 for artificial reef using repurposed FDOT bridge material
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Summary
The Coastal Conservation Association of Florida presented the county with a $110,000 donation to help repurpose an estimated 3,500 tons of concrete from an FDOT bridge demolition into an artificial reef at a permitted county reef site.
Indian River County received a $110,000 donation from the Coastal Conservation Association (CCA) of Florida to support a plan to repurpose demolition material from the State Road A1A bridge replacement into an artificial reef at a permitted county site.
Kylie (Natural Resources Director) told commissioners the project would use approximately 3,500 tons of debris from the old State Road A1A bridge and place it at a permitted county reef location. She said Representative Brackett helped connect county staff and partners and commissioners had previously voted unanimously to use the county’s coastal-program artificial reef funding for the project.
Frank Gaitis, director of Habitat and Environmental Restoration for CCA Florida, described artificial reefs’ ecological and economic benefits: reefs provide habitat for marine life and attract divers and anglers who spend locally. "These reefs will be out here for decades and decades, and you're gonna have people fishing and diving them basically every day," Gaitis said during the presentation. The CCA group presented a ceremonial $110,000 check to county staff.
County staff said the project is a partnership with FDOT (owner of bridge demolition material) and the Coastal Conservation Association; county planning and permitting will be needed before placement at a permitted reef site. Commissioners and staff thanked the donors and discussed next steps for permitting and placement.