Your Action Needed
WHEREAS, the MIDTOWN Beach Renourishment Project (FDEP file no. 0164713-001-JC) in Palm Beach County will bury the irreplaceable Breakers Reef and dredge precariously close to a sewer line in order to dredge 1.4 million cubic yards of sand near offshore coral reefs and dump it on nearshore reefs along 4.5 miles of beaches, extending the beaches hundreds of feet into the ocean.
WHEREAS, the BROWARD COUNTY Beach Renourishment Project (FDEP file no. 0163435-001-JC) will bury over 37 acres of coral reef during the dredging of 4 million cubic yards of sand near offshore reefs and the subsequent placement of that sand on nearshore reefs to extend 11.9 miles of beaches hundreds of feet into the ocean, and will create a groin structure that will inhibit sea turtle nesting at John U. Lloyd State Park.
WHEREAS, the INDIAN RIVER COUNTY Beach Renourishment Project (FDEP file no. 0166929-001-JC) will bury over 57 acres of reef, including fragile Oculina corals, during the dredging of over 2.6 million cubic yards of sand to extend 8.3 miles of beach hundreds of feet into the ocean.
WHEREAS, the PHIPPS OCEAN PARK Beach Renourishment Project, (FDEP file no. 0165332-001-JC) in Palm Beach County will bury over 2 acres of coral reefs and dredge precariously close to a sewer line in order to dredge 1.5 million cubic yards of sand near offshore reefs and dump it on nearshore reefs along 1.9 miles of beaches, extending these beaches hundreds of feet into the ocean.
WHEREAS, OTHER SIMILAR DREDGING PROJECTS have resulted in damage from dredges straying off course, cutting enormous swaths into nearby coral habitat, and the smothering of coral reefs and hardbottoms by silt.
THEREFORE, we, the undersigned, declare to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and elected officials in the Town of Palm Beach and Counties of Indian River and Broward that the damage to coral reefs and hardbottoms that will be caused by the above referenced projects MUST NOT BE PERMITTED.
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