Photo courtesy of Brevard Times and FPL
Two new artificial reefs for SCUBA divers and fishermen have been created off the coast of St. Lucie County using 130 old concrete power poles donated by Florida Power and Light (FPL). The poles mark the largest and second donation of material from FPL to St. Lucie County’s artificial reef program. A similar artificial reef was created in 2005 using material donated by FPL.
The donated poles, weighing a total of about 2,000 tons or the equivalent of 1,250 mid-sized cars, were transported to Harbour Pointe Park in Fort Pierce before they were submerged off the coast of Ft. Pierce during four deployments in December 2012 and January 2013 to create the reefs. The coordinates for the two reefs, which are in about 60 feet of water and have already attracted fish, are:
27 degrees 23 minutes north latitude and 80 degrees 2 minutes west longitude; and
27 degrees 32 minutes north latitude and 80 degrees 11 minutes west longitude.
In October 2012, FPL removed and replaced 130 concrete poles in Port St. Lucie with about 60 poles that are more storm-resilient. This project and a new substation are part of FPL’s larger plans to enhance service reliability and reduce service interruptions in St. Lucie County.
The St. Lucie County artificial reef program has spared thousands of tons of concrete from landfills, while creating underwater habitats for marine life, anglers and divers to enjoy.
FPL’s donation is the most recent example of what has been a long-standing corporate value of environmental stewardship. For example, FPL’s decades-old program that monitors and protects the American crocodile at Turkey Point power plant has helped remove it from the federal endangered species list.
In addition, about three-quarters of the St. Lucie power plant property consists of mangrove swamps, marsh and beaches, allowing the company to support a variety of environmental activities, including a sea turtle monitoring and protection program.
Since 2005, St. Lucie County’s artificial reef program has spared 16,000 tons of concrete from landfills, while creating 24 underwater habitats for marine life, anglers and divers to enjoy. St. Lucie County has one of the most active artificial reef programs in the state. Reports from consultants, anglers and divers indicate that the reefs are providing habitat for 111 species of fish.
Florida has more than 2,700 artificial reefs off its coast, reportedly the largest number of permitted artificial reefs in the nation. A University of Florida study reported that non-residents and visitors annually spend $1.7 billion on fishing and diving activities associated with artificial reefs in South Florida.
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