Artificial Reefs for BeachArtificial Reefs for Beachand Reef Restorationand Reef Restoration

Lee E. Harris, Ph.D., P.E., Assoc. Professor,Lee E. Harris, Ph.D., P.E., Assoc. Professor,FIT Department of Marine & Environmental SystemsFIT Department of Marine & Environmental Systems

Todd Barber, Chairman, Reef Ball FoundationTodd Barber, Chairman, Reef Ball Foundation

Purposes for Artificial ReefsPurposes for Artificial Reefs•Provide environmental enhancement•Mitigate for damages to reefs

–Ship groundings, dredging, burial, pollution

•Restore damaged reefs–Natural events (storms, tsunamis, etc.)

•Enhance eco-tourism –fishing, diving, snorkeling, surfing

•Assist with shoreline stabilization

Reef BallReef Ball™™ UnitsUnits

Reef BallReef BallTM TM

Artificial Reef UnitsArtificial Reef Units

6-8less than one50 lb bag

30-45 lbs(15-20 kg)

1 foot(0.30m)

1.5 feet(0.46m)Oyster Ball

6-10less than two50 lb bags

80-130 lbs(35-60 kg)

1.5 feet(0.46m)

2 feet(0.61m)Lo-Pro Ball

8-12less than four50 lb bags

150-200 lbs(70-90 kg)

1.75 feet(0.53m)

2.5 feet(0.76m)Mini-Bay Ball

11-160.10 yard(0.08m3 )

375-750 lbs(170-340 kg)

2 feet(0.61m)

3 feet(0.9m)Bay Ball

17-240.33 yard(0.25m3 )

1500-2200 lbs(700-1000 kg)

2.9 feet(0.9m)

4 feet(1.22m)Pallet Ball

22-340.75 yard(0.6m3 )

3000-4200 lbs(1350-1900 kg)

3.8 feet(1.22m)

6 feet(1.83m)Reef Ball

22-340.9 yard(0.7m3 )

3,500-4,500 lbs(1600-2000 kg)

4.3 feet(1.31m)

5.5 feet(1.83m)Ultra Ball

22-341.3 yard(1.0 m3 )

4,000-6,000 lbs(1800-2700 kg)

4.5 feet(1.37m)

6 feet(1.83m)Super Ball

25-401.3 yard(1.0 m3 )

4,000-6,000 lbs(1800-2700 kg)

5 feet(1.52m)

6 feet(1.83m)Goliath Ball

# Holes

ConcreteVolumeWeightHeightWidthStyle

LayercakesLayercakes, , Sculptures, etc.Sculptures, etc.

Reef BallReef BallFabricationFabrication

Reef Ball Unit Reef Ball Unit Floating Floating

InstallationInstallation

Barge Transport & DeploymentBarge Transport & Deployment

Grand Cayman DeploymentGrand Cayman Deployment

AnchoringAnchoring

• Environmental Enhancement

• Wave Attenuation• Snorkel Reef

Artificial Reef Artificial Reef SubmergedSubmergedBreakwaterBreakwater

Natural & Natural & Artificial Artificial Reefs as Reefs as BreakwatersBreakwaters

Reef Ball Artificial Reef BreakwaterReef Ball Artificial Reef BreakwaterSubmerged breakwater with Reef Ball artificial reef units

REEF UNITS

Reef Ball Units UnderwaterInduced Wave Breaking

Artificial Reef Artificial Reef BreakwaterBreakwater

19982001

3-Row Reef Ball Breakwater (3 segments) in Dominican Republic

6’ wide 4’ tall 2-ton Unit

After 2 monthsApril 2001

After 3 years

-2

-1

0

1

2

3

4

0 10 20 30 40 50 60

Distance (meters)

Elev

atio

n (m

eter

s)

3-Row Reef Ball Breakwater

13m gain in shoreline

April 2001 Profile

February 1999 Profile

distance = 13m

Artificial Reef BreakwaterArtificial Reef Breakwater

AccretionTable 1. Changes in Shoreline and

Sand Volume Calculations 1998 to 2001

+2.0 m3/m0 mControl

+44.25 m3/m+13 mEast

+25.65 m3/m+10 mWest

Sand Volume Change(m3/m)

Shoreline Change(meters)

Profile Line

Original vs. Eroded Original vs. Eroded Beach ConditionsBeach Conditions

Wide beach

Narrow beach

Grand Cayman Grand Cayman 7mile Beach7mile Beach

October 2002 (left) February 2003(right)October 2002 (left) February 2003(right)

Profile Line D-7

-6

-5

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-1

0

1

2

3

4

0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180 200 220 240Distance (feet)

Elev

atio

n (fe

et)

Nov-02 Feb-03

Profile Line at Center ProjectProfile Line at Center Project

Accretion

5-Row Reef Ball BreakwaterNatural Reef

Submerged Breakwater Reef Submerged Breakwater Reef Maiden Island, AntiguaMaiden Island, Antigua

Diving AreaDiving AreaSwim PassagesSwim Passages

Snorkel TrailSnorkel Trail

Swimming, Swimming, Snorkeling, & Snorkeling, & Diving TrailsDiving Trails

6363rdrd Street ReefStreet ReefSubmerged Reef BallSubmerged Reef BallTMTM

Artificial Reef BreakwaterArtificial Reef Breakwater

USACE National Shoreline Erosion Control Development and Demonstration Program

Section 227

32nd Street: Headland BW’s

Sunny Isles: Detached Submerged BW’sExisting Existing MiamiMiami

““Hot SpotHot Spot””TreatmentsTreatments

Submerged Breakwater Reef Design Submerged Breakwater Reef Design for 63for 63rdrd Street, Miami BeachStreet, Miami Beach

Physical Modeling Physical Modeling by USACEby USACE

ERDCERDC--WESWESSection 227 Project

Reef Ball Units on Articulated Mat Reef Ball Units on Articulated Mat for Miami Beach USACE Sec. 227 for Miami Beach USACE Sec. 227

Submerged Breakwater DesignSubmerged Breakwater Design

Propagated Coral Propagated Coral Transplants on Transplants on Reef Ball UnitsReef Ball Units

Coral Propagation Coral Propagation & Transplanting& Transplanting

Curacao Coral Rescue Project

Aquaculture Raised Aquaculture Raised Coral TransplantsCoral TransplantsMustique ProjectMustique Project

Planting coral plugsPlanting coral plugs

77--months Progression in Antiguamonths Progression in Antigua

5, 18, and 285, 18, and 28--month Growthmonth GrowthProgression in CuracaoProgression in Curacao

Indonesia Indonesia –– 55--year Growthyear Growth

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