FORT PIERCE - Hundreds of tons of concrete materials are being loaded on to a barge in Taylor Creek as St. Lucie County prepares to make four artificial reef deployments in the coming weeks.

Before June 30, McCulley Marine Services, St. Lucie County's artificial reef contractor, is scheduled to make four artificial reef deployments in 90 feet of water on the permitted Offshore Artificial Reef Site surrounding the Amazone wreck as well as a corridor between the Amazone and the crane barge (A.K.A. the high reef). The timing of these deployments will depend on the winds and seas.

"I'm hopeful that the winds are going to die down soon and we can start moving these materials offshore as early as next week," said Jim Oppenborn, St. Lucie County marine resource coordinator. "It's always difficult to have a set time and date to make a deployment. We're at the mercy of the seas."

The nearly 2,000 tons of materials collected for the new artificial reefs include concrete light poles, railroad ties, slabs and culverts. These materials were donated by local government agencies and private businesses including: Progress Energy, Signal Group, Florida East Coast Railroad, W. Jackson & Sons, Fort Pierce Utilities Authority, Fort Pierce Public Works Department, Ranger Construction, St. Lucie County Road & Bridge Division, Burkhard Construction, Murphy Construction and Dickerson Corporation.

This most recent deployment is support through a grant from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and the St. Lucie County Erosion District. Since being reinstated almost two years ago, St. Lucie County's Artificial Reef Program has made eight deployments. These reefs provide habitat for marine species and offer destinations for recreational divers and fishermen. Researchers have documented more than 65 different fish species on St. Lucie County's artificial reefs including 20 species of snapper and grouper, four species of sportfish (permit, red drum, snook, tripletail), four species of baitfish, four species of sharks and rays and one species of sea turtles.

For additional information about the St. Lucie County's Artificial Reef Program or to find out how your organization can contribute to the program, call Jim Oppenborn, marine resource coordinator, at (772) 462-1713.

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