Broward County Artificial Reef Partnership

About the Program

Category: Community and Economic Development (Best in Category)

Year: 2017

The Broward County Environmental Planning and Community Resilience Division has a long history of creating and deploying artificial reefs. Beginning in the early 1990s, over 200 artificial reefs have been created by the County utilizing a diversity of materials including derelict vessels, large ships, limestone boulders, and concrete modules. However, creating an artificial reef is an expensive process with costs going toward purchasing, cleaning, preparing, and deploying the materials. Rigid engineering and environmental requirements add to the costs, all of which have been increasing in recent years and grant funding sources will only provide a fraction of the cost of the program. A solution to this financial challenge has been the creation of the Broward County Artificial Reef Partnership. This is a collaborative effort with Shipwreck Park, Inc., a 501c3 foundation which can solicit funding from private donors and public granting entities.