Nonprofit gets approval for offshore reef site in Volusia

Volusia County approved the first offshore private reef site to support the Veterans Reef Project.

The reef system, which will be created off the coast at Ponce Inlet, and eventually on the inland waters will both clean the water and create a habitat for marine life.

Community support is needed with all donations remaining local.

Kids 4 Vets, a nonprofit that supports veterans services and clean water projects, sought the reef approval. The nonprofit partners with Reef Projects in 70 countries and throughout the United States.

Capt. Nikki Swain started Kids 4 Vets in 2014 as a volunteer organization supporting other veterans’ groups in the Sarasota area. Last year Kids 4 Vets created Ride 4 Veterans to raise donations for clean water projects and veterans services.

Creating reefs both inshore and offshore was a perfect avenue to support the organization.

“We were granted permission to create the offshore reef project because of our occupation and partners in the reef building business,” Capt. Swain said. “Our volunteers and partners are creating veterans reef projects in locations from Texas to New York. As a videographer and partner with a water conservation organization it was only natural for us to focus on clean water in Volusia County.”

The idea is to create a fish habitat offshore and possibly establish an inshore reef project to help clean up the Halifax River. The inland reefs can be placed under docks and in mangroves. Inshore reefs will require a different permitting process. The state and each city must approve each site.

As to veterans, the organization’s goal is to raise the money for veteran services, such as service animals, power wheel chairs and getting veterans off the street.

Tom Wade, project manager for the Veterans Reef Project, said, “We are creating mini aquariums to collect donations. The mini-donation jars will be placed at dive shops, surf shops and other businesses in the community. It is our hope they will create support plus donations to create the project.”

The organization will place full-sized reef balls at locations around the county as donations are received to show what the money is going to.

A reef ball is a specifically designed artificial reef used to restore ailing coral reefs and to create new fishing and scuba diving sites. They are made of a special, marine friendly concrete and are designed to mimic natural reef systems. Reef balls vary in size and cost, and in addition to serving as a habitat for local fish, crabs and other marine life, reef balls help rebuild the shoreline by minimizing erosion and promoting the growth of plants.

The reef balls will remain on display until they are scheduled for placement in the water. The first ones will arrive at the end of July.

Capt. Swain has a 50-ton U.S. Coat Guard captain’s license, but will need other boats to help.

“We will be doing both reconstruction and new site construction,” Mr. Wade said. “We are going to need volunteers to assist with diving the sites and construction. We need several boats large enough to lift a 500-pound reef ball. We are looking for inshore home and property owners interested in assistance with the individual reefs. The program will cost around $120,000 per location. We are going to start construction as donations are received. So, $500k plus to complete the project.”

Anyone interested in donating or volunteering can call (305) 204-8387, email floridareefproject@gmail.com or visit veteransreef.org. You can also support Kids 4 Vets by visiting kids4vets.org or emailkids4vets@gmail.com.

source: https://www.hometownnewsvolusia.com/news/nonprofit-gets-approval-for-offshore-reef-site-in-volusia/article_d4945030-21b9-11ee-a357-bf5a4b949e68.html