A Sampling of Seagrass Recovery Sediment Tube Projects:

Cow Key Channel

This Restoration of 10,000 square feet of propeller scars utilized sediment tubes for seagrass mitigation for the City of Key West and was contracted through Misener Marine Construction. 4000 sediment tubes were installed, the propeller scars were immediately stabilized preserving the surrounding seagrass area and re-colonization has occurred. Success criteria were reached and the client was released from their monitoring requirements.

West Coast Inland Navigation District

This was a test project for the potential offset of mitigation of maintenance dredging of intercoastal waterways. 1000 sediment tubes were installed, the injured areas were immediately stabilized to prevent further erosion, preserving the surrounding seagrass area and re-colonization has occurred. This project was independently monitored and the success criteria were achieved.

Turtle Bay

This was a mitigation project for La Bellasara in Sarasota which South West Florida Water Management District (SWFWMD) specified the use of sediment tubes to immediately stabilize the injuries. 2723 of sediment tubes were installed, the injury was immediately stabilized, preserving the surrounding seagrass area and re-colonization has occurred Independent monitoring is completed. Success criteria were achieved and the client was released from their monitoring requirements.

Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT)

This was part of a seagrass mitigation project for the DOT which was designed to introduce seagrass habitat on a previously terrestrial area. 4400 sediment Tubes were not placed in the propeller scars. They were experimentally placed on rocky substrate to introduce suitable seagrass supporting sediment. Independent monitoring cited bioturbation and herbivore grazing where Sea Urchins moved into the entire area to retard the colonization process. Successful seagrass colonization is occurring, yet not at the expected pace. Independent monitoring is still occurring in order to track the colonization rate.

National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)

• “Dream On” Vessel Grounding Restoration: Seagrass Recovery was selected to install 400 sediment tubes into a vessel grounding injury on Calda Bank to prevent further erosion through stabilization of the injury. The injury was immediately stabilized with the sediment tubes to preserve the surrounding seagrass area and re-colonization of the injury has successfully occurred.

• “Ocean Wind” Vessel Grounding Restoration: Seagrass Recovery was selected to install 150 sediment tubes into a vessel grounding injury Key West to prevent further erosion through stabilization of the injury. The injury was immediately stabilized with sediment tubes to preserve the surrounding seagrass area and re-colonization of the injury has successfully occurred.

• “Kristal” Vessel Grounding Restoration: Seagrass Recovery was selected to install 250 sediment tubes into a vessel grounding injury on John Sawyer Bank off of Key West to prevent further erosion through stabilization of the injury. The injury was immediately stabilized with sediment tubes to preserve the surrounding seagrass area and re-colonization of the injury has successfully occurred.

• “Baer Shart” Vessel Grounding Restoration Seagrass Recovery was selected to stabilize a vessel grounding injury Key West to prevent further erosion of the surrounding seagrass area. 150 sediment tubes were installed, the injury was immediately stabilized and re-colonization is successfully occurring.

Tampa Bay Watch (Ft. DeSoto Park/Jackass Key)

Tampa Bay Watch sponsored the Save the Bay Restoration project and propeller scar restoration was part of this plan. The propeller scar injuries were immediately stabilized with sediment tubes to prevent further erosion of the surrounding seagrass area. 244 sediment tubes were installed, the injuries were immediately stabilized and re-colonization has successfully occurred.

Sebastian Inlet

PBS&J contracted Seagrass Recovery to stabilize propeller scar injuries with sediment tubes to prevent further erosion of the surrounding seagrass area as a component of the multi-faceted seagrass mitigation plan. 2000 of sediment tubes were installed, the injuries were immediately stabilized and re-colonization is successfully occurring.

Red Bay Bank Restoration Project

This was a restoration project funded through a grant and was performed on the Red Bay Banks near Marathon, Florida. Seagrass injuries created by vessel groundings were stabilized with sediment tubes to prevent further erosion of the surrounding seagrass area. 5191 sediment tubes were installed, the injuries were immediately stabilized and re-colonization is successfully occurring.

Seagrass Grow / Restore-a-Scar Project

The Ocean Foundation contracted Seagrass Recovery to restore 4000 square feet of propeller scar and vessel grounding injuries to prevent further erosion of the surrounding seagrass area on Knights Key Bank in Marathon Florida. 2000 sediment tubes were installed, the injuries were immediately stabilized and re-colonization is successfully occurring.

Oceanview Homeowners Association

A private homeowners association contracted Seagrass Recovery to restore propeller scars for mitigation for the maintenance dredging of a navigational channel. 3500 tubes were installed, the injuries were immediately stabilized and re-colonization is successfully occurring.

St. Andrews Bay

This was a restoration project funded through a Grant and was performed in the Panhandle of Florida to restore seagrass injuries made by propeller scar to prevent further erosion of the surrounding seagrass area. 1420 of sediment tubes were installed, the injuries were immediately stabilized and re-colonization is successfully occurring.

Belleair Beach Causeway

Misener Marine Construction hired Seagrass Recovery to restore seagrass injuries made by propeller scars to prevent further erosion of the surrounding seagrass area, as part of the seagrass mitigation for the new bridge that was constructed. 100 sediment tubes were installed, the injuries were immediately stabilized and re-colonization is successfully occurring.

LIgnumvitae State Park Vessel Grounding Restoration

This restoration project was funded through a Grant and was performed in Islamorada, Florida to study seagrass injury restoration. 1000 sediment tubes were installed, the injuries were immediately stabilized and re-colonization is successfully occurring. Dr. Judd Kenworthy with NOAA is independently researching this project and has documented that compressed succession (when the climax species, Thallassia testudinum, is overtaking the pioneer species, Halodule) is proudly being observed and documented.

Mullet Key/ Ft. DeSoto Park restoration

University of South Florida contracted Seagrass Recovery to restore propeller scars off of Ft. DeSoto Park in Pinellas County, Florida to prevent further erosion of the surrounding seagrass area. 1175 sediment tubes were installed, the injuries were immediately stabilized and re-colonization is successfully occurring.

Loparello Project

Client contracted Seagrass Recovery to restore propeller scars off of Ft Desoto in Pinellas County Florida to prevent further erosion of the surrounding seagrass area as part of their seagrass mitigation plan. 125 sediment tubes were installed, the injuries were immediately stabilized and re-colonization is successfully occurring.

Tampa International Airport Highway Expansion Project

Seagrass Recovery was contracted to prevent erosion surrounding the seagrass area as part of the seagrass mitigation plan for the new interchange that was constructed. 4000 sediment tubes were installed, the Slope was immediately stabilized and re-colonization is successfully occurring.

Puerto Rico Department of Natural Resources (DNR)

Seagrass Recovery donated 400 sediment tubes to the Puerto Rico Department of Natural Resources for restoration in Jobos Bay. The project was in collaboration with the Department of Natural Resources to familiarize it with restoration techniques to restore seagrass injuries created by prop scarring and vessel groundings to actively restore the injuries to prevent further erosion of the nearby seagrass area. The sediment tubes were installed, the injuries were immediately stabilized and re-colonization is successfully occurring