Two New Reefs coming to the St Johns River

[coredumped]

I haven't seen much info on this, I wasn't able to find it in the TU either.

Kenny Chesney's love of the ocean, the islands and being out on the water inspired the Luttrell, Tennessean to get involved with the Coastal Conservation Association's project to place two man-made reefs in the heart of St John's River, less than half a mile from the downtown I-95 bridge. Teaming with the national Building Conservation Trust, Kenny is matching the funds raised to help CCA complete their project.

"When you can have a hand in stewarding the health of the ocean," Kenny said, "you're insuring the survival of something very necessary for all of us, whether you're a beach person or someone that won't go near the water. The ecological balance is very delicate, especially in Florida, so I am honored to help them achieve this goal."

The reefs – which will measure roughly 200 feet by 200 feet – will be composed of more than 30,000 cubic feet of concrete rubble.  Less than a mile from the nearest boat ramp, Jacksonville University will spend the next two years studying the impact of these structures on the surrounding areas.

"The material is going to be carefully arranged so that there will be no issues with clearance from the surface, but there will be areas with three to four feet of relief from the bottom intermixed with open spaces to create an ideal habitat for fish," said CCA's local  project spearhead Peyton Scheppe. "The area now is basically just an open sandbar so the transformation is going to be fascinating."

These reefs are easily accessible by small boats and will provide much needed habitat and improved fishing in this section of the river, which is approximately 20 miles inland from the Atlantic.

"Costa asked me what I wanted to do with the money raised through our sunglasses last year," said Kenny, "and I told them I'd like what we do to be something that renews the waterways, so people can enjoy them the way so many of my friends and fans do. To protect the oceans, bays and rivers is our responsibility – and I'm glad we can make a difference in the St. John River."

Drawing inspiration from life on the water, the 8-time Academy of Country Music/Country Music Association Entertainer of the Year hopes to insure the future of the oceans and beaches. Earlier this year, Kenny donated a portion of the sales from Life On A Rock, his 7th Billboard Top 200 Albums No. 1 debut, to the Friends of the Virgin Islands National Park to help defray the costs of nature preservation.

Now that his No Shoes Nation 2013 Tour has played to over 1.25 million fans at 19 stadiums, Kenny is taking a hiatus before releasing his "Spread the Love" video, shot with the Wailers across historic Jamaica. The clip – along with downloads of the single track, unisex and girly t-shirts – support Chesney's Spread the Love Fund to benefit the amputee victims of the Boston Bombing.

"Just because I'm taking a minute to exhale before getting back to music," says Kenny, "doesn't mean I'm any less committed to the world I live in! In some ways, when I pause I feel even more connected – and certainly more able to invest in some of these projects that we might miss in the rush of all the business."

http://blog.gactv.com/blog/2013/10/18/kenny-chesney-helps-build-two-reefs-in-jacksonvilles-st-john-river/

[icarus]

I've never heard of this organization before but I certainly think this is awesome. I'm really surprised that this hasn't been in the local paper ... wait ... no I am not surprised its not been in the Times Onion.

Here is a link to the association's story:

http://www.ccaflorida.org/home/269-cca-florida-set-to-bring-urban-reefing-to-jacksonville

[coredumped]

I wonder why our country stations haven't picked it up yet, they have a story about it on the Orlando country station site:
http://www.k923orlando.com/weblogs/low-down-twang-town/2013/oct/21/kenny-chesney-builds-man-made-reefs/

[JeffreyS]

Very cool

[Stephen]

Great news...he seems very taken with Jacksonville....Great organization too !

[BridgeTroll]

The deployment will consist of more than 25,000 cubic feet of concrete rubble will be placed in each of the two sites.

Not sure if it is coincidence or not but the I-95 overpass project appears to be recycling all the concrete being torn up.  You can see the recycle site from 95 or Atlantic.  Dump trucks bring in the debris... it is sorted, rebar removed, broken into small chunks then ground into gravel in huge piles...

[JeffreyS]

I wonder when the reef construction is targeted to be started and complete.

[Overstreet]

Most reefs these days are made from concrete frame pyramids with a web like field between the structures of the pyramid.  Rubble and reef balls silt up and move around too easy.

Concrete rubble is often recycled for road bed fill.

[BridgeTroll]

Most reefs these days are made from concrete frame pyramids with a web like field between the structures of the pyramid.  Rubble and reef balls silt up and move around too easy.

Concrete rubble is often recycled for road bed fill.

out in the ocean yes... the article says they will use "concrete rubble"...


http://www.ccaflorida.org/home/269-cca-florida-set-to-bring-urban-reefing-to-jacksonville

[ChriswUfGator]

LMAO! All somebody did was figure out a clever way to dispose of a bunch of road construction waste for free, and slipped it past the public by slapping Kenny Chesney's face on it. Even for Jacksonville this is a bit much. A "reef" comprised of dumping loose concrete rubble into the river, priceless.

[icarus]

Its actually somewhere in between both views and not dumping trash.

The debris from the demolition of 95 is being broken into aggregate to be reused in the construction.  It has been pulverized to a state that it would serve no purpose as a reef and would simply be like dumping fill dirt in the river .. ineffective.

No, it will not be the reef balls or pyramids we are use to being seen deployed in the ocean but it will be something closer to the larger rubble/rocks used in traditional jetties.

[icarus]

And, on careful reflection, this project has been discussed for sometime and if I remember correctly, which I do, Lori Boyer objected to the project on behalf of her constituents.  It seems the residents of San Marco were concerned about the increased boat traffic from fisherman enjoying the river.

[BridgeTroll]

And, on careful reflection, this project has been discussed for sometime and if I remember correctly, which I do, Lori Boyer objected to the project on behalf of her constituents.  It seems the residents of San Marco were concerned about the increased boat traffic from fisherman enjoying the river.

Because... the river is theirs?

[BridgeTroll]

And, on careful reflection, this project has been discussed for sometime and if I remember correctly, which I do, Lori Boyer objected to the project on behalf of her constituents.  It seems the residents of San Marco were concerned about the increased boat traffic from fisherman enjoying the river.

Thanks for the clarification.  Glad they are recycling though... a few short years ago it would have simply been landfill...

[Jaxclarks]

Reefs in the river are a great idea!  Near shore reefs would be great, too; however, the shrimping industry has been able to effectively ban reef development in our waters.   Permits for reefs along Alabama shores have been authorized and have been built for years, but we have been unsuccessful in n. Florida. and it hurting real developement of what Jacksonville has that is truely unique!

What Jacksonville has that Orlando and many other areas mentioned do not have is fabulous water ways that have been underutilized and disrespected.  My father was in flight school in Florida during WWII and that upstate NY boy, upon seeing our area with rivers, the sea, fresh water lakes and estuaries, made up his mind to move here and make Jacksonville his home, if he lived thru the war.  He did both and fished every location from Fernandina to Welaka.  That is what drew him to Jacksonville and that is what draws many people to Jacksonville.  We don't need fish in a glass tank, or to view the river from 1000 ft. above, we have some of the best fishing in the world right here and a beautiful river we can't even play in!  And we have the best weather I've experienced in all my travels. 

Access to these natural fishing areas is becoming very limited, in fact, No Fishing signs are being placed along our shore by some unknown force, without vote or public comment.  Not only is beach access limited, it is limited to disabled individuals and to families that like to pull a cart to the shore and spend the day.  There is not one single fish camp or lodge along the north end of our beautiful river and it is a crying shame!

We are missing the boat in a huge way!  Eco-tours, fishing, family time without being plugged into a cyber-aqurium is what people want.  Not more strip malls, night clubs and shopping malls.  Who shops at a mall anyway? Amazon gets my money, they deliver while I'm fishing.