High school reef deployment completed

Last week, Carl Blow, Commissioner with the St. Augustine Port, Waterway & Beach District, reported to Historic City News on the recent deployment of additional concrete pipe and boxes at the High School Reef.

According to Carl, the weather was perfect for the addition of approximately 600 tons of 42″ diameter concrete storm water pipe and a number of concrete storm water boxes at the location of the reef project.

The High School Reef is a 40 acre site located 13 miles NE of the St Augustine Inlet in 60 feet of water. St Johns County permitted the reef site in 1999. Between 2001 to 2003, 159 reef balls built by our high school students were placed at the site.

The project manager is Wil Smith with the St. Johns County Recreation & Parks Department and Blow assisted Smith on behalf of the St. Augustine Port, Waterway & Beach District who provided the funding for this years reef enrichment.

St. Augustine Port Waterway & Beach District has also partnered with Flagler County and Florida Fish & Wildlife Service to place a second reef approximately 10 miles east of the Matanzas Inlet in 63 feet of water. The used concrete storm water pipe and boxes for the second reef were donated by Clay and Flagler Counties. This second reef will be deployed no later than July 1, 2008.

Contributed Historic City News photo; courtesy of Carl Blow