|Coral killed by sediment from the Port of Miami Deep Dredge (Source: Florida Department of Environmental Protection|
Is the environmental damage the Corps of Engineers causes finally catching up with them? Events in Florida indicate that may be the case.
We’ve previously reported about a dismal failure of the U.S. Corps of Engineers – the Port of Miami Deep Dredge Project, which destroyed over 200 acres of coral reefs.
The Army Corps of Engineers, which has a long history of ignoring or glossing over environmental issues, had shrugged off concerns by environmental groups, and claimed that the dredging would do very little harm to the coral reefs,
Since the damage was identified, the Corps of Engineers has obstructed attempts by the National Marine Fisheries Service and others to survey the damage and try to save coral that has been smothered by silt.
As a result, the Port of Palm Beach dredging project remains blocked by a U.S. Congressional Representative, and business and environmental groups recently urged the Corps of Engineers to reevaluate planned dredging of the Port of Everglades.
Will the Corps of Engineers learn from their mistakes and act responsibly? Stay tuned.
In the meantime, to learn more about these issues, check out these recent news articles and press release:
PortMiami dredge finally done but questions remain about reef damage, Miami Herald (September 18, 2015)
PortMiami dredge damages more coral than feds expected, Miami Herald (August 17, 2015)
Money for (Port of Palm Beach) expansion still blocked, Palm Beach Post, September 18, 2015)
ENVIRONMENTALISTS AGAIN WARN OF WIDESPREAD CORAL DAMAGE IN PORT EVERGLADES EXPANSION PROJECT, Broward County New Times
Widespread Coral Damage at Port of Miami Project Sparks Call to
Reevaluate Port Everglades Expansion, Center for Biological Diversity (September 4, 2015)