Coral Reef Tire Removal Project to Resume

DATE: July 27, 2009
CONTACT: Pat Quinn, Broward County Natural Resources
Planning and Management Division
PHONE: 954-519-1218

Federal, State and Broward County officials are set to begin the third year of a monumental project to remove hundreds of thousands of tires from Osborne Reef off the coast of Fort Lauderdale. The Broward County Natural Resources Planning and Management Division, with Port Everglades and the Parks and Recreation Division, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, and U.S. Army and Navy divers are partners in this massive coral reef restoration effort.

In the 1970s, two million tires were placed in Broward's coastal waters by private organizations attempting to create an artificial reef. Unfortunately, the artificial reef never developed. Instead the tires loosened and moved, damaging the nearby natural corals. Today these tires are estimated to cover more than 36 acres. This year, divers hope to remove more than 45,000 tires over a six-week period (equivalent to 30 tractor-trailer loads), to reach a three-year total of nearly 100,000.

This coral reef restoration project is unique in several ways. Divers provided by the United States Army and Navy will gather and bundle the tires which are then buoyed to the surface. While the divers work to clean up the environment, the tire retrieval project also serves as military training exercise. The Army is also providing a 175-foot ship termed a landing craft utility (LCU) which accommodates a crane used to transfer the tire bundles from the water's surface to on-board tractor-trailer units. Full trailers are regularly off-loaded at Port Everglades and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection manages the recycling of the waste tires. The Broward County Natural Resources Planning and Management Division is the local partner providing project coordination and oversight. Port Everglades provides dockage and vessel support during the entire mission and the Parks and Recreation Division provides logistical support.

This multi-agency partnership to achieve coral reef restoration has brought critical resources to Broward County and support for an environmental project that has been long overdue. Broward County is pleased to welcome its State and Federal partners in another year of collaboration and environmental restoration. For more information about the Coral Reef Tire Removal Project, call Pat Quinn at 954-519-1218
Posted by Jim at 7:40 AM 0 comments
Labels: Army Divers, Broward County Natural Resources, LCU, Navy Divers, Tire Removal

Thunderstorm at Dusk

Thunderstorm North of West Palm Beach at dusk. You can see the lights of Downtown West Palm Beach which sits on the West bank of the Lake Worth Lagoon. I took the photo from the S.R. 80 (Southern Blvd.) causeway across the Lake Worth Lagoon around 9 PM July 2, 2009.

Enjoying the Lake Worth Lagoon

(Compass Raft)

Today was the annual Lake Worth Raft Race. The event is held at the Bryant Park Boat ramp located on western bank of the Lake Worth Lagoon. The best way to save our natural environment is to encourage people to use the resource.

( Popeye Prepares to sail)

From the Audubon of Florida

Thank You! Your Support Helped Win a Victory for the Climate


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Your help to engage our House of Representative members from Florida helped achieve a major victory for tackling climate change and protecting Florida’s environment and economy last week. The U.S. House of Representatives in a razor sharp vote of 219 to 212 passed the American Clean Energy and Security Act (ACES) late Friday.


Florida faces heavy impacts from climate change.
© RJ Wiley
Thank you to each of you who reached out with a telephone call, a letter to your local newspaper or took any action to support this legislation. The ACES bill establishes the building blocks to reduce dangerous levels of global warming pollution, stimulate renewable energy and energy efficiency, and provide new, green jobs.

The House vote was the first major hurdle to achieving sorely needed climate solutions, and your help and support was critical to the passage of this bill. Now the Senate must act to ensure the nation addresses the grave threats of climate change and its consequences, and starts the nation on the road to a secure energy future and healthy environment.

Stay tuned. We have successfully moved over the first hurdle, but the race is still far from over.


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City Celebrates National Clean Beaches Week

June 22, 2009: In honor of National Clean Beaches Week (July 1-7, 2009), the City of Delray Beach will sponsor three (3) beach "clean-up" efforts during the month of July.

Representatives from the City of Delray Beach Litter Prevention Division and Parks & Recreation will sponsor a Clean Beaches Information Booth where litter prevention and recreational materials as well as promotional giveaways will be distributed. These information booths will be open to the public on July 1, 2009 at the Municipal Beach on Atlantic Avenue and A1A and again on July 2, 2009 at Sandoway Park, 142 S Ocean Boulevard from 9:00 am until 1:00 pm.

On July 6, 2009, City of Delray Beach Litter Prevention Coordinator Jennifer Buce will conduct a beach cleanup at Sandoway Park, 142 S Ocean Boulevard, from 9:00 am until 11:00 am. Delray Beach Parks & Recreation summer camp children will participate in this effort and learn the importance of preserving our beaches.

For more information, please call Jennifer Buce at (561) 243-7138 or visit www.mydelraybeach.com.

The Clean Beaches Council sponsors National Clean Beaches Week and is a 501 (c) (3) not-for-profit organization devoted to sustaining America's beaches by promoting public awareness and volunteer participation in sustainability while ensuring a legacy of clean beaches for all generations to come. National Clean Beaches Week is an annual event that draws public attention to the importance of clean beaches and celebrates a healthy beach lifestyle by swimming, playing, surfing and enjoying the outdoors.


Contact:
City of Delray Beach
Public Information Office
(561) 243-7190
PIO@mydelraybeach.comCity Commission:
Nelson S. "Woodie" McDuffie, Mayor
Gary Eliopoulos, Vice-Mayor
Mackenson Bernard, Deputy Vice-Mayor
Fred Fetzer, Commissioner
Adam Frankel, Commissioner