Guidelines for Marine Artificial Reef Materials
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GUIDELINES FOR MARINE ARTIFICIAL REEF MATERIALS THIRD EDITION A JOINT PUBLICATION OF THE GULF AND ATLANTIC STATES MARINE FISHERIES COMMISSIONS NUMBER 296 MARCH 2020 GUIDELINES FOR MARINE ARTIFICIAL REEF MATERIALS Third Edition Compiled by the Artificial Reef Subcommittees of the Atlantic and Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commissions Edited by: James R. Ballard October 2019 i CONTRIBUTORS James Ballard2 Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission Gregg Bodnar1 North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries George Frankel Eternal Reefs Lisa Havel1 Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission Robert M. Martore1 South Carolina Department of Natural Resources Mike McDonough2 Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Keith Mille1,2 Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission January Murray1 Coastal Resources Division Georgia Department of Natural Resources Craig Newton2 Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Douglas Peter2 Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement Jimmy Sanders2 Mississippi Department of Marine Resources Dale Shively2 Texas Parks and Wildlife Department Jeff Tinsman1 Delaware Division of Fish and Wildlife Please refer to the Guidelines for Marine Artificial Reef Materials 2nd edition for previous contributors. _____________________________________________________________________________________ 1Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission Artificial Reef Subcommittee Member 2Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission Artificial Reef Subcommittee Member ii DEDICATIONS This edition is dedicated to the memories of Jim Francesconi (Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission Artificial Reef Subcommittee Member) and Jimmy Sanders (Gulf States Marine Fisheries Commission Artificial Reef Subcommittee Member). Jim Francesconi Jim passed away on July 18th, 2014 after a long and brave battle with leukemia. He began working with the North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries in 1987 and became the Artificial Reef Coordinator in 2000. Jim’s efforts with the Program produced hundreds of enhancements throughout coastal North Carolina, including the creation of one estuarine and two ocean reef sites, the sinking of the USCG SPAR, Tug Titan, The Captain Greg Mickey, Tug Pawtucket, Capt. Charlie, and two USCG Falcon aircraft to name just a few. More importantly Jim made countless friends along the way that will truly miss him. iii Jimmy Sanders July 22, 1973 – May 5, 2018 “Those who knew him, couldn’t help but love him.” Whether you knew Jimmy as family, friend, or colleague his kindness was a gravitational force that drew people to him. As the Director of the Mississippi Artificial Reef Bureau, dedicated to creating and restoring habitat for marine life off the coast of Mississippi, Jimmy’s work ethic was something to which we should all aspire. No matter how busy he got though, he always made time for his family. Whether it was coaching softball or attending first communion, he never missed the important moments in life. Those important moments are now memories that remain as his legacy. Jimmy will forever be in our hearts as a man that enhanced our lives and the environment. Like everything he touched, he left this world better than he found it. For that we are eternally grateful. iv TABLE OF CONTENTS Title Page --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- i Contributors ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ ii Dedications ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- iii Table of Contents ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ v Preface ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ vi 1.0 Introduction -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 1.1 Purpose -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 1.2 Background --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1 1.3 History --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2 1.4 National Artificial Reef Plan ------------------------------------------------------------------- 3 1.5 Gulf and Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commissions ----------------------------------- 4 2.0 Discussion of Materials ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 6 2.1 Concrete ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6 2.2 Steel Hulled Vessels ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 14 2.3 Ferro-cement Vessels and Dry Docks --------------------------------------------------------- 57 2.4 Oil / Gas Platforms and Similar Structures --------------------------------------------------- 60 2.5 Aircraft --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 87 2.6 Railroad, Subway, and Street Cars ------------------------------------------------------------ 100 2.7 Designed Structures ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 111 2.7.1 Shallow, Nearshore Reefs ---------------------------------------------------------------- 116 2.7.2 Memorial Reefs ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 117 2.8 Military Hardware -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 124 2.9 Natural Materials --------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 135 2.9.1 Wood ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 135 2.9.2 Shell ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 136 2.9.3 Rock ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 140 2.9.4 Electrodeposition -------------------------------------------------------------------------- 145 2.10 Miscellaneous ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 150 2.11 Historically Used Materials: Rarely Considered for Reef Development --------------- 154 2.11.1 Fiberglass and Wooden Vessels ------------------------------------------------------- 154 2.11.2 Ash Byproducts -------------------------------------------------------------------------- 158 2.11.3 Vehicles ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 165 2.11.4 Vehicle Tires ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 167 2.11.5 White Goods ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- 178 3.0 Conclusion --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 187 v PREFACE The purpose of this document is to provide a comprehensive discussion regarding a variety of materials that have been used in the development of marine and estuarine artificial reefs in the United States. This document is a guideline only, and is not, by its nature, regulatory. Our hope is that agencies, organizations, and individuals will find the document useful in the decision- making process regarding the types of materials that are likely to be suitable for use as artificial reefs, including recommendations for optimum application. In that the information in this document represents the opinions and experiences of reef program managers, it should be given serious consideration in decision-making processes. No regulatory agency is bound, however, by any rule to use this document to make decisions about the acceptability of reef materials. In the event a regulatory agency applies the document to its decision-making process, it should do so with the understanding that this document has no legal standing. The materials discussed in this report do not represent the full range of materials that could be used as artificial reef material, but rather represent the materials that have been used in the development of artificial reefs in marine and estuarine habitats in the United States. References to specific deployments of the selected materials are not intended to be all inclusive, but to provide a general overview and examples of the use of the material. This document is not intended to promote, endorse, or encourage the use of any material over other materials, but to provide background and experiences with the use of selected materials, a listing of benefits and drawbacks associated with using selected materials, and a listing of considerations if the materials are selected for use as artificial reef material. For emphasis, the Benefits and Drawbacks subsections represent perceived benefits and drawbacks contributed by state artificial reef managers as a result of their involvement in artificial reef development over many years. Finally, the Considerations subsection represents practical suggestions by the state artificial reef managers of actions or considerations that should be included in the planning process. It is anticipated that the adoption of this document, and its distribution, will provide artificial reef programs and prospective artificial reef developers with information that will increase the potential for successful efforts at habitat creation and enhancement. It is not intended to be either anti- artificial reef development, or a promotional publication,