The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is planning the largest permitted coral destruction in U.S. history, right near Ft. Lauderdale. Proposed dredging at Port Everglades threatens a thriving coral reef that supports coastal wildlife, local economies, and provides hundreds of millions annually in hurricane and storm surge protection. If the project proceeds, the nearby reef could face the same tragic fate as reefs near PortMiami, where millions of corals were buried in sediment during a similar dredging project nearly a decade ago and never restored.
Stop the Dredge
What you need to know:
- The reef adjacent to Port Everglades is still home to some of the last populations of threatened staghorn corals and breeding grounds of the threatened queen conch.
- Under current plans, this intensive construction project would last five to six years and disturb sediment that would smother the vibrant coral reef sharing its waters.
- We must learn from the PortMiami disaster and avoid repeating the same mistakes that resulted in widespread coral death and destruction.
