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143-473: Osborne Reef is an artificial reef off the coast of Fort Lauderdale, Florida at 26°06′27″N 80°03′54″W  /  26.10748°N 80.06493°W  / 26.10748; -80.06493 . Originally constructed of concrete jacks , it was the subject of an ambitious expansion project utilizing old and discarded tires . The expansion ultimately failed, and the reef has come to be considered an environmental disaster —ultimately doing more harm than good in

286-632: A Category 4 hurricane on the Saffir–Simpson hurricane wind scale , and a minimum barometric pressure of 916 hPa (27.05  inHg ), a pressure typical for a Category 5 hurricane. The tropical cyclone's eye measured 12 mi (19 km) at peak intensity as the storm was beginning an eyewall replacement cycle . The progression of this cycle resulted in Opal's gradual weakening thereafter. At 22:00 UTC that day, Opal made landfall between Pensacola Beach, Florida and Navarre Beach, Florida , on

429-456: A Goodyear Blimp to christen the site. The culmination of the project was the deposit of over two million tires bound with steel clips over 36 acres (15 ha) of the ocean floor, approximately 7,000 feet (2,100 m) offshore, and at a depth of 65 feet (20 m). The really good idea was to provide habitat for marine critters so we could double or triple marine life in the area, [...] It just didn't work that way. I look back now and see it

572-515: A "wait and see" approach that resulted in complacency, while others affected by the widespread power outages caused by Erin may have acquired a greater sense of readiness toward the approaching hurricane. Regardless, the overall evacuation process was described as chaotic, and the failure to clear hurricane evacuation routes of casual or communal traffic was blamed for the relative unease during evacuations for Opal. Traffic congestion on these routes caused some evacuees to return to vulnerable areas along

715-552: A 1,650-acre artificial reef created in 2017 in the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Texas, is being studied to assess its potential for carbon capture. Another study area is located off Juehua Island in the Bohai Sea . Biological, physical, social and technological factors must all be considered in calculating carbon capture flow in aquatic systems. Near Juehua Island, M-shaped artificial reefs improved hydrodynamic conditions for creating

858-687: A 56 mph (90 km/h) gust in the Atlanta-Hartsfield area. High winds in Rabun County caused $ 5 million (1995 USD) from the approach of Opal on October 5. The damage was worst in Rabun County where numerous trees were blown down. The wind damage was described as being worse than the March Superstorm of 1993 . Power was out for some people for at least a week. More than 4000 trees were knocked down within

1001-620: A barn and several vehicles. Ten thousand dollars in damage occurred. The second and strongest tornado hit ground in Temple Hills, injuring three people after reaching a peak wind of 150 mph (240 km/h). 100 homes were damaged with 15 being condemned. The Potomac Electric Power reported 9000 people without power. Damage from the second tornado totaled out to $ 5 million. The third and final tornado touched down in Odenton, became an F1 tornado and doing $ 250,000 in damage to

1144-456: A better understanding of the processes and refined methods for predicting shoreline response". Even in cases which were initially seen as successful, subsequent changes and deterioration of structures have led to poor outcomes. Surfers' expectations of artificial reefs, particularly "an expectation by the general public of consistent, quality waves during a wide range of environmental conditions" have also led to disappointment. Surfing science

1287-494: A biologist with the National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS), have argued that the amount of biomass found on artificial reefs is attracted away from nearby areas rather than developing there. According to this view, artificial reefs do not increase fish populations. Instead they operate as a type of fish aggregating device (FAD) bringing in fish, eggs and larvae from other reefs. However, there

1430-596: A car and totaled it. An F0 tornado spawned by one of Opal's bands downed a number of trees and power lines. Campers, vehicles, structures and boats were damaged in Greenville. In North Carolina , over 17 inches (430 mm) of rain fell. The rainfall included 9.89 inches (251 mm) in Robinson Creek and 8.95 inches (227 mm) in Highlands. The Robinson Creek rains spawned flash flooding. Officials in

1573-522: A carbon sink, but local marine species had limited availability. Development of active marine management strategies and the introduction of appropriate biological species were suggested as ways to increase carbon capture potential. In the Caribbean, researchers have found that the placement of breeze blocks as artificial reefs near tropical seagrass meadows can create a positive feedback loop. The reef structures attracted fish by providing shelter, and

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1716-539: A few other structures. Tropical storm force winds were reported in extreme south Lafourche Parish and Jefferson Parish, as well as extreme east St. Bernard Parish . Property damage cost estimated. Tides were generally 2 feet (0.61 m) above normal in Lake Pontchartrain, and three to five feet above normal along the southeast Louisiana coast from Grand Isle eastward. Some low-lying coastal roads were flooded. Approximately 10,000 people evacuated from

1859-604: A first phase, and woven polyester bags in a second stage filling an area of approximately 1600 cubic meters. The area involved was too small to be successful. Even after doubling the original budget, the materials used degraded rapidly, and the resulting remediation cost more than the installation. Mount Reef at Mount Maunganui in New Zealand used more durable containers and a volume of around 6,000 cubic meters of sand. Although somewhat successful in creating waves, it too deteriorated and had to be removed. The Narrowneck Reef

2002-443: A food source for coral, causing the coral to die. PVCs , plastics , oil , paint , asbestos , iron and other rusting metal, can release toxic contaminants such as Poly-chlorinated biphenols (PCBs) and heavy metals ( Pb, Cu, Ni, Cd, Zn, Ag, and Hg ). Toxic materials can potentially enter the food chain and affect it at all levels, including fish and humans. However, consumption of seafood from artificial reefs and wrecks

2145-731: A hazard, for use in artificial reefs. For example, oil and coal fly ash have been stabilized with cement and lime to create experimental artificial reef blocks. However, as with the use of tires, there continue to be environmental concerns about the potential for leaching. In the United States, best practices for preparing vessels for use in artificial reefs include assuming that divers may access all locations, removing potential hazards to divers, removing all polluting or toxic materials, including PCBs (in compliance with applicable water quality standards for class III ocean waters), and clearing debris and floatables. However, if materials over

2288-1005: A heavy rainfall warning by the Ontario and the Quebec Weather Centers for southern parts of both provinces but anticipated rain amounts would not be of the order of the ones associated with Hurricane Hazel 41 years before. The leftover system of Opal also spawned a gale warning for Nova Scotia . Rainfalls were from 0.5 inches (13 mm) in Northwestern Ontario to 4 inches (100 mm) in southern parts of Ontario and Quebec , less in New Brunswick . For example, Toronto received 78.6 millimetres (3.09 in), flooding basements and streets. In Quebec, 80 millimetres (3.1 in) were recorded in Montreal , only 2 millimetres (0.079 in) short of

2431-832: A large tree limb was downed in Saratoga Springs which damaged four cars. Total damage in New York totaled to $ 35,000. A low pressure area which used to be Opal moved across western and northern New York late and into Vermont on the night of October 5 and the morning October 6. Damaging winds occurred across parts of central and northern Vermont but especially along the western slopes of the Green Mountains . Damaging winds downed trees and power lines across Essex, Orleans, Addison, Caledonia and Rutland counties. In Essex County damage occurred in Canaan and Concord. Damage

2574-518: A mile of U.S. Highway 98 near Eglin Air Force Base was completely destroyed. The pavement was nearly replaced by mounds of sand left behind after storm surge. Opal also spawned an F2 tornado that killed a young woman in Florida. None died as a direct result of storm surge. This was quite unusual, considering the strength and landfall location of Opal. Okaloosa Island , Fort Walton Beach,

2717-429: A much higher attraction to living in vertical artificial reef structures than older Red Snapper. By ages 6–8, adults return to muddy and sand bottom habitats, which provide a home for the species' pelagic larval phase. Being aware of how organisms relate to the marine habitat is critical to mapping marine resources and understanding how artificial reefs affect marine processes. The siting of artificial reefs should consider

2860-498: A pH-level that is compatible with coral. The tiles are small enough to be handled and installed by a diver. An installation in Hong Kong reported a 95 percent coral survival rate after three years, more than four times the survival rate of more traditional restoration methods. Restoration and mitigation actions on artificial reefs can include activities such as coral transplantation, larval resettlement, and gardening. For example,

3003-492: A secondary one at Maxwell Air Force Base with a gust of 90 mph (140 km/h). The highest sustained winds reported from Opal was 75 mph (121 km/h) at Fort Rucker, 55 mph (89 km/h) in downtown Mobile and 47 mph (76 km/h) at Maxwell Air Force Base and Montgomery . Numerous downed trees across much of the southeastern United States left over 2 million people without power. Alabama reported that 476,000 residents were without power, which

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3146-535: A shipwreck led to increases in algae and a sea anemone called a corallimorph, smothering existing coral to create a "black reef". Artificial reefs can show quick increases in local fish population, coral reef and algae growth. However, the attraction–production dilemma is the question of whether local increases in fish stocks result from broader-area distributional changes in populations (the attraction hypothesis) or increases in local production (the production hypothesis). Some researchers, such as James Bohnsack,

3289-400: A stretch of beach now known as "Opal Beach", as a weakened Category 3 hurricane with winds of 115 mph (185 km/h). Weakening quickened as Opal moved further inland, degenerating into a tropical depression over Tennessee less than a day after landfall. The diffusing cyclone transitioned into an extratropical cyclone shortly afterwards; these extratropical remnants tracked towards

3432-434: A surfing reef, off Hermosa Beach, California (1971). Artificial surfing reefs have been created at Cable Station Reef ( Perth , Western Australia , 1999) Narrowneck Reef ( Gold Coast, Queensland , 2000) Chevron Reef , also known as Pratte's Reef ( El Segundo, California , 2000, removed 2008). and Boscombe Surf Reef (Dorset, England, 2009, closed 2011). The construction of artificial surfing reefs has involved

3575-1062: A variety of intended uses, ranging from the protection, enhancement and restoration of marine ecosystems to the support of human activities like fishing, recreational diving and surfing. Artificial reefs can be used as active restoration tools to mitigate environmental damage and habitat loss, restore degraded ecosystems such as kelp forests and coral reefs, and promote biodiversity. In fisheries management, artificial reefs may be intended to increase production of species of recreational and commercial interest, enhance fishing yield, and support recreational, artisanal or commercial fisheries. They may be designed to protect benthic habitats from illegal trawling and restore fish stocks. They may be placed to protect against coastal erosion. They may also be developed to support eco-tourism, promote recreational activities like scuba diving and surfing, and mitigate tourism pressure on corals. The design and construction of an artificial reef may be very different depending on its proposed location and intended goals. A reef that

3718-679: A variety of structures including concrete, rock, and geotextile bags filled with sand. Life expectancy of such materials varies widely. Geotextile structures have been found to degrade more quickly than anticipated under ocean conditions. Some analysts argue that they are fundamentally flawed. While use of stone blocks has raised concerns about possible safety hazards for surfers, it has been suggested that using stone may be structurally preferable. In addition to improving surfing conditions, objectives of building an artificial surfing reef or multi-purpose reef have included stabilizing beachfront, coastal protection and coastal research. Habitat enhancement

3861-951: Is a relatively new field. The ability to achieve consistency of surfing waves in a range of conditions in natural environments generally requires wave pre-conditioning or large scale breaking features or both. The scale of early artificial surfing reefs was too small to achieve such consistency. Thousands of popular wreck diving sites throughout the world are shipwrecks sunk as artificial reefs. Some of these wrecks were sunk deliberately to attract divers . The USS  Spiegel Grove and USS  Oriskany in Florida , USS  Indra and USS  Aeolus in North Carolina, and Bianca C. in Grenada draw thousands of divers annually. In other areas, dive sites have been developed in collaboration with artists as artworks. For example,

4004-575: Is applied to a sub-sea metallic structures that causes limestone to precipitate onto a metal frame onto which coral planulae can then attach and grow; the process also speeds up post-attachment growth. 3D printing technology has been employed both to create molds to optimize the environment for target species, and to directly create cast ceramic and concrete artificial reefs. Work has also been done to develop environmentally friendly materials. For example, Archireef has designed 3D-printed terracotta Reef Tiles, which are nontoxic, biodegradable, and have

4147-684: Is being done into construction methods and the effects of artificial reefs. Many of the materials used early on are now considered undesirable. A 2001 literature review suggested that about half of the reefs studied met their objectives. Long-term planning and ongoing management were identified as essential factors in success. A more recent analysis of reefs world wide between 1990 and 2020 concludes that artificial reefs can be useful tools for restoring marine ecosystems if they are strategically designed to suit their specific location and its resource needs. The construction of artificial reefs began in ancient times. According to historian Diodorus Siculus ,

4290-697: Is considered unlikely to pose a long-term health risk for humans at average levels of consumption, with the exception of urchins and other grazing shellfish which should be avoided. International recommendations state that artificial reefs should use inert materials. Under the 2009 "Specific Guidelines for Assessment of Inert, Inorganic Geological Material" developed by the London Convention and Protocol/UNEP, inert materials cannot cause contamination through leaching, physical and chemical deterioration, or biological activity. Attempts continue to be made to create stable waste-based materials that will not pose

4433-522: Is designed for one purpose may be unsuitable for others. Early attempts to create artificial reefs frequently failed, or at best, met with mixed results. More recent reviews of work from 1990-2020 suggest that a correctly implemented artificial reef, designed to fit its target ecosystem, can be useful as a tool for the restoration of marine ecosystems. Reviewers call for better before/after and control comparisons of artificial and natural reefs, increased monitoring of reefs over their lifespan, and attention to

Osborne Reef - Misplaced Pages Continue

4576-427: Is situated, how it is constructed, and the ages and types of species involved. While the artificial reefs allow for coral growth, it changes the ecosystem as the relative growth for different species is not always the same. Studies have found that macroalgal, cyanobacterial groups, and coral that are fast growing, grow in artificial reefs at different rates than they would grow in natural reefs. Considerable research

4719-446: Is some evidence to suggest that artificial reefs can be a source of production as well as attraction. A 2022 review concluded that "the attraction-production question around ARs ... can only be assessed on a case-by-case basis for each AR, and validated after their installation." Concentrating fish on a reef makes for easier fishing. The increased concentration of fish on artificial reefs can make it easier to harvest fish stocks, with

4862-464: Is sometimes considered as well. However, different materials are preferred for the construction of artificial surfing reefs and the development of reefs for ecosystem enhancement. A 2012 review of artificial reefs indicated that artificial surfing reefs performed poorly in terms of their intended purpose and successfulness, rarely achieving primary or secondary objectives of "Surfing Enhancement". For Pratte's reef, woven polypropylene bags were used in

5005-649: The Coral Restoration Foundation in the Florida Keys raises keystone species such as elkhorn ( Acropora palmata ) and staghorn ( Acropora cervicornis ) in coral tree nurseries and replants the corals onto degrading coral reefs. Application of such technologies to artificial reefs could help to restore marine ecosystems. A 2023 review article states: "The implementation of artificial reefs to restore marine ecosystems can be well done, investing resources in studies specifically aimed at determining

5148-572: The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) to plan to arrange a deal with those companies whose construction damages the seabed and reefs. Where they would previously mitigate their destructive construction with replacement constructs for reefs, the state would require them to make their amends by removing tires from the Osborne Reef. This plan faced criticism by environmental groups who felt that this would only hasten

5291-488: The Florida Panhandle , west of Pensacola . In 1998, Hurricane Bonnie deposited thousands of the tires onto North Carolina beaches. Jack Sobel, Ocean Conservancy 's director of strategic conservation said in a 2002 interview that "I don't know of any cases where there's been a success with tire reefs." That year, The Ocean Conservancy's International Coastal Cleanup removed 11,956 tires from beaches all over

5434-527: The Galveston, Texas , emergency operations center opened to monitor the tropical cyclone and deliberate upon potential preparations for the city. Meanwhile, the launch Space Shuttle Columbia 's STS-73 mission set for October 5 was postponed due to Opal's anticipated effects. On October 3, a voluntary evacuation order was placed on Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana , due to the risks of potential storm surge. Schools were also closed by noon that day across

5577-560: The Great Smoky Mountains , power and phone service were out in many areas of the park. Newfound Gap road closed for several days due to trees and a rockslide that were lying across it. Campers were asked to leave Elkmont Campground near Gatlinburg because of high water. Many sections of the Blue Ridge Parkway were closed because of trees that fell across the road. Flooding occurred in the northern portion of

5720-707: The Gulf Coast during the afternoon and early evening of October 4. Wind damage was mainly limited to downed tree limbs, power lines, and signs. One minor injury was reported in Harrison County due to flying debris. Damage in Mississippi totaled up to $ 75 thousand. In Louisiana , the only significant wind damage occurred in extreme south Plaquemines Parish where winds were estimated around 60 miles per hour (97 km/h) with gusts to hurricane force, with wind damage reported to some mobile homes and roofs of

5863-546: The Museo Subacuático de Arte in the Cancún National Marine Park contains hundreds of life-size statues, offering divers an alternative to sensitive coral reefs in the region. Each statue is made from a plaster mold of a living person, using a PH neutral "marine cement", by Jason deCaires Taylor . In Lisbon, 13 artworks by Alexandre Farto ( Vhils ) will be placed in an artificial reef off

Osborne Reef - Misplaced Pages Continue

6006-563: The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to begin a tire removal program. She was able to coordinate the removal of only 1,600 tires from the reef, and at a estimated cost per tire of $ 17 (equivalent to $ 29.25 in 2023). In 2002, Florida and Broward County environmental officials began the long and arduous process of setting into motion a plan to remove the tires. An original estimate of between $ 40 and $ 100 million (equivalent to about $ 68M and $ 169M in 2023) led

6149-1026: The Rigs-to-Reefs program), scuttling ships , or by deploying rubble or construction debris . Shipwrecks may become artificial reefs when preserved on the seafloor. A conventional artificial reef uses materials such as concrete, which can be molded into specialized forms (e.g. reef balls ). Green artificial reefs incorporate renewable and organic materials such as vegetable fibres and seashells to improve sustainability and reduce energy consumption, pollution, and greenhouse gas emissions. In some cases, artificial reefs have been developed as artworks. Artificial reefs generally provide hard surfaces where algae and invertebrates such as barnacles , corals , and oysters attach and spaces where different sizes of fishes can hide. The accumulation of attached marine life in turn provides intricate structures and food for assemblages of fish. The ecological impact of an artificial reef depends on multiple factors including where it

6292-798: The Romans blocked the harbor of Lilybaeum during the First Punic War against the Carthaginians around 250 BC. They built an artificial reef "with stones and construction material" and put poles in the channels using "large timbers and anchors". Persians blocked the mouth of the Tigris River to thwart Arabian pirates by building an artificial reef. Artificial reefs to increase fish yields or for algaculture began no later than 17th-century Japan, when rubble and rocks were used to grow kelp . The earliest recorded artificial reef in

6435-509: The coastal Florida waters . In 2007, after several false starts, cleanup efforts began when the United States military took on the project. This cleanup exercise provided the military with a real-world training environment for their diving and recovery personnel, coupled with the benefit of helping the Florida coast without incurring significant costs to the state. In 2015, a civilian corporation took over, and had removed one third of

6578-443: The pecan crop was about $ 50 million. Several rivers and creeks overflowed their banks. Beginning the evening of October 4, numerous power outages were reported in metro Atlanta , where sustained tropical storm conditions overnight (including gusts to nearly 70 mph (110 km/h)) felled thousands of trees. Oaks were particularly susceptible, as their root systems were loose. Around 7 inches (180 mm) of rainfall

6721-439: The 1840s, US fishermen used interlaced logs to build artificial reefs. More recently, refuse such as old refrigerators, shopping carts, ditched cars and out-of-service vending machines replaced the logs in ad hoc reefs. Officially sanctioned projects have incorporated decommissioned ships , subway cars, battle tanks, armored personnel carriers , oil drilling rigs and beehive-like reef balls. Artificial reef structures (ARs) have

6864-721: The Bay of Campeche, Opal accelerated towards the United States Gulf Coast . The combination of warm sea surface temperatures associated with an unusually warm pocket of ocean waters and an upper-level high pressure area over the Gulf of Mexico resulted in a highly conducive environment for intensification. After a significant reorganization in Opal's internal structure, the hurricane was able to rapidly intensify in these favorable conditions. At 12:00 UTC on October 4, Opal reached peak intensity with maximum sustained winds of 150 mph (240 km/h), making it

7007-531: The Florida DEP estimated the project to take three to five years, and while that timeline would not allow for the removal of all two million tires, it should mitigate the majority of the damage they were causing to the corals and coastline, though Banks predicted it could take decades for the reefs to rebuild. Beginning in June 2007, the United States military and Coast Guard began “DiveExEast 07" to ascertain

7150-701: The Fort Knox area had several roads closed after Opal washed them out. In Michigan , Opal produced 2 to 3 inches (51 to 76 mm) of rain over the Middle Rouge River Basin from late afternoon through the evening on the 5th. As a result, the Middle Rouge River crested one foot over flood stage, causing the Edward Hines Drive to be closed off to traffic. High winds associated with the remains of Hurricane Opal affected

7293-773: The Gold Coast of Australia, stone boulders were used to adapt the shape of an existing breakwater and protect added sand. Another artificial stone reef, located in Borth , Wales , was designed primarily for coastal protection. A major issue is that changes occurring in the lee of submerged reef structures are complex, not well understood, and difficult to model and predict. As of 2012, existing prototypes have been characterized as "trial or experimental only", and predictive models have not achieved "accuracy or reliability", although it has been hoped that "ongoing construction and monitoring of submerged constructed reefs (SCRs) will result in

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7436-776: The International Coastal Cleanup in September of each year. Since 2021, 4Ocean has added collecting tires from the bottom to their cleanup operations as well. Some attempts to construct artificial surfing reefs have also been problematic. A number of early surfing installations used geotextile bags filled with sand which degraded more quickly than anticipated. Cases such as Pratte's Reef in California and Mount Reef at Mount Maunganui in New Zealand have required extensive remediation work to remove materials. In some cases, remediation has cost more than

7579-587: The Louisianan mainland. The following day, oil companies operating offshore oil drilling platforms in the Gulf of Mexico began evacuating workers from the rigs to land. On October 1, a coastal flood watch was issued for portions of the United States Coast due to the risk of storm surge from Opal. The United States Coast Guard issued an advisory for boaters in the Gulf of Mexico to use caution or remain in port where possible. The next day,

7722-625: The United States Gulf Coast ahead of Opal, with 5 percent of evacuees seeking public shelters and over half of evacuees seeking shelter out of their home counties; in their post-storm assessment the Federal Emergency Management Agency  (FEMA) noted that the landfalls of Hurricane Allison and Hurricane Erin on the Florida panhandle earlier in the year produced a dichotomous mood toward preparations for Hurricane Opal—some people may have taken

7865-842: The United States is from the 1830s, when logs from huts were used off the coast of South Carolina to improve fishing. In the Philippines a traditional native fishing technique known as fish nests (natively known by various names like gango , amatong , or balirong ), is basically an artificial reef. It uses rocks and waterlogged wood to build mounds inside excavated trenches on shallow tidal waters that attract fish and crustaceans. The mounds are then harvested every few weeks during low tide by surrounding them with nets and dismantling them piece by piece. They are rebuilt after every harvest. Fish nests are often used to capture grouper fingerlings to be used as seeds for aquaculture . Fish nests were in common use since before 1939. Beginning before

8008-465: The appropriate characteristics of ARs for each location." There is interest in the possibility that artificial reefs can be used to support carbon sequestration and counter climate change . Coastal vegetation ecosystems (mangrove, salt marsh, and seagrass), algal beds, and phytoplankton have been identified as potential carbon sinks . It is hoped that increasing biomass at artificial reefs can provide another form of blue carbon storage. RGV Reef,

8151-837: The area during the late afternoon and early evening on the 5th. Strong northeast winds destroyed a new 200-foot (61-m), two-story pole barn on the Marine City Highway in Marine City . The storm also cut power to several areas, resulting in some school closings. The maximum wind gust at Detroit Metro Airport was a 38-mph (61-km/h) gust, which was from the northeast. The damage from this incident totaled out to $ 15,000. The remnants of Opal passed across northeast Ohio and caused wind gusts up to 45 mph (72 km/h) and sustained winds of 20 to 30 mph (32 to 48 km/h) all across northern Ohio. Several automobiles were damaged by falling trees or limbs. Crops were damaged from

8294-469: The area. Eleven houses were damaged and about 10,000 people were without power in the whole district that the Baltimore Gas and Electric serves. In Tennessee , rainfalls included about 3 to 5 inches (76 to 127 mm) in the central part of the state, one inch (25 mm) at the western part of the state and 3 to 5 in (76 to 127 mm) in the eastern part of the state. Wind speeds at

8437-463: The best and most efficient processes for the cleanup effort. Barring unforeseen operational commitments and engagements, military divers hoped to use this project as a training platform for several years and "recover the maximum number of tires possible from day one." Summer 2007 saw US Navy , Army , and Coast Guard divers based out of a Coast Guard base in Dania Beach, Florida working to clean

8580-446: The city of Atlanta alone. These trees fell across roads, and on power lines, homes, mobile homes, and automobiles. More than a half a dozen people were injured from falling trees in the early morning hours of October 5. There were more than 1200 telephone poles knocked down and almost 5,000 power lines snapped. Power crews from surrounding states helped to restore power to many, however, thousands of residences remained without power through

8723-500: The cleanup, some of which transported the tires to a shredding facility in neighboring Georgia , whereafter they were burnt as fuel at a paper mill . Key members of the 2008 cleanup effort were US Army Captain Russell Destremps and his 86th Engineer Dive Team ; on August 10, 2009, they were presented with the 2008 Coastal America Partnership Award and a letter from US President Barack Obama for their participation in

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8866-523: The coast of Albufeira as of June 2024. The works are made from parts of decommissioned power stations. A study in Barbados showed a marked variation in diver satisfaction with artificial reef diving experiences. Novice divers tended to be more satisfied than more experienced divers, who had a strong preference for natural reefs and large shipwrecks. Environmental concerns about artificial reefs include possible physical damage to existing natural sites in

9009-430: The coast while raising fears that stranded evacuees on highways could be subjected to potentially fatal hurricane-force winds. The post-landfall watches and warnings released in accordance with Opal were a flash flood warning released on October 5 for portions of Alabama , northern Georgia , and the western parts of North Carolina and South Carolina . The warning also included eastern Tennessee . A flash flood watch

9152-412: The coastline. Other reefs are designed to hold sediment on beaches by trapping the sediment. Reefs are generally custom-designed for each unique zone. Some are designed to support customizable habitat for local target species as well. Some types of artificial reefs, such as surfing reefs, do not have ecosystem enhancement as a major goal. Hoppy's Reef was an early but unsuccessful attempt to create

9295-419: The concern of adjacent coastal areas is that the tires are not remaining within the boundaries of Osborne Reef. This project is not the only one of its nature to fail; Indonesia and Malaysia mounted enormous tire-reef programs in the 1980s and are now seeing the ramifications of the failure of tire reefs, from littered beaches to reef destruction. In 1995, Hurricane Opal managed to spread over 1,000 tires onto

9438-469: The country. In Florida, high winds and storm surge left extensive damage in the panhandle . The majority of structures were swept away or experienced some degree of damage, particularly from Wakulla County westward. In Escambia , Okaloosa , Santa Rosa and Bay counties, nearly 300 homes were destroyed and 1,000 others suffered major damage. The storm left at least $ 2.1 billion in damage in Florida alone. Several other states were impacted by

9581-581: The county including Route 57 near the Tri-county Firehouse. Downed wires caused power outages in Hackettstown and Mansfield Township . The remnants of Hurricane Opal passed over northwest Pennsylvania on Thursday night (5th/6th) and caused wind gusts up to 50 mph (80 km/h) and sustained winds of 20 to 30 mph (32 to 48 km/h). Heavy rains accompanied the storm and averaged 1.5 to 2.5 inches (38 to 64 mm). Flooding

9724-846: The destruction of more marine habitats. In 2007, Broward County contacted the United States Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs about their Innovative Readiness Training (IRT) program , which looked for civil-military projects that would improve military readiness and address the needs of the American public. CWO Donovan Motley said that the cleanup of Osborne Reef easily met those requirements: "This project allows these military divers and Army [ Landing Craft Utility ] crew members' real-world training in 'wartime' salvage ops. And perhaps, more importantly, it exercises interoperability with federal, state and county agencies and these skill sets could have

9867-624: The early 1970s waste tires were used to create a number of artificial reefs. Tropical storms later demolished the tire containment system, washing tires onto beaches, destroying nearby coral reefs and inhibiting new coral growth. On the Osborne Reef off the coast of Fort Lauderdale, Florida , storms broke the nylon straps holding the original tire bundles together. As of November 2019, 250,000 of an estimated 700,000 tires have been removed. France has begun removing its tire reefs. The Ocean Conservancy now includes tire removal during

10010-678: The extreme rainfall. By October 3, agricultural losses in Campeche alone were estimated in the billions of pesos (hundreds of millions of USD). At least 19 people perished across Mexico while another 31 were killed in Guatemala. About 200 miles (320 km) of Florida 's coastline felt the impact of Hurricane Opal. Rainfall in Florida peaked at 15.45 inches (392 mm) in Ellyson, 7.27 inches (185 mm) at Pensacola, and 6.64 inches (169 mm) at Hurlburt Field. The highest gust recorded

10153-716: The fish in turn fertilized the seagrass and increased its productivity, providing both food and shelter. The combination of seagrass and reef structures provided added protection from fish nets as well as increasing biomass in the seagrass meadow. Estimates suggest that Caribbean seagrass beds can provide substantial pools for global carbon. Some artificial reefs are used to prevent coastal erosion . Geometric and hydrodynamic properties of reefs are particularly important in determining their ability to mitigate coastal erosion. Artificial reefs to prevent erosion can be designed to act in multiple ways. Some are designed to force waves to deposit their energy offshore rather than directly on

10296-555: The following day. The precursor and initial stages of Opal brought heavy rainfall and flooding to Guatemala and Mexico . In the former, flooding and landslides left about 34,000 people homeless and damage to infrastructure and agriculture. A total of 31 deaths occurred in Guatemala. In Mexico, a number of rivers overflowed in the states of Campeche and Tabasco , forcing more than 42,000 people to evacuate. The storm left hundreds of millions of dollars in damage to agriculture in Campeche alone. Nineteen people were killed in

10439-674: The higher elevations of the Appalachian Mountains were recorded at 70 mph (110 km/h) whereas 40–50 mph (64–80 km/h) gusts were more common at the lower elevations. Trees and power lines were down over much of the region. Over 70 miles (110 km) of the Appalachian Trail were closed due to trees being down. A total of over 20,000 people were without power from Opal's wrath. The most damage occurred in Hamilton County , which had damage

10582-432: The installation area; their potential to disrupt existing patterns of marine life by introducing non-native species and by attracting fish, eggs and larvae from surrounding natural habitats; their potential to concentrate fish in areas where it becomes easier to catch them, leading to overfishing and long-term damage to fisheries; and the potential for the materials used in artificial reefs to degrade and cause damage to

10725-467: The large number of evacuees led to severe traffic congestion ; Escambia County officials estimated that "tens of thousands" were still on evacuation routes within the county only a few hours before Opal made landfall. Mass evacuations in some other counties concluded during the afternoon of October 4, though many evacuees in other locations were unable to reach safe areas prior to the onset of gale-force winds. An estimated 100,000 people evacuated from

10868-508: The letter O . Over the next two days, Opal entered the Gulf of Mexico before tracking slowly west-southwestward into the Bay of Campeche . There, the storm strengthened into a hurricane at 12:00 UTC on October 2. Shortly afterward, a primitive eye began to form. At the same time, a strong trough tracking across the United States caused Opal to slowly turn northeastward. After clearing

11011-524: The military to end their cleanup at Osborne Reef, 72,000 tires had been collected by soldiers, sailors, and coasties. In 2015, the state contracted with Industrial Divers Corporation (IDC) to remove the tires. From 2016–2019, the Florida Legislature allocated $ 4.3 million to the project. As of November 2019, IDC was removing 2000–5000 tires per week, had accumulated a total of 250 thousand so far, and still had two thirds of

11154-405: The most significance in the aftermath of a Katrina-type natural disaster." Coastal America , an office of the United States federal government, was tasked with coordinating the cleanup of the reef; they were instrumental in finalizing the deal wherein the Florida government would allocate $ 2 million (equivalent to about $ 2.9M in 2023) to cover transport and recycling of the tires. Ken Banks with

11297-702: The natural habitat. This can include toxicity from contaminants such as paint , oil , and plastics , as well as parts of the reef breaking away and becoming ocean waste or washing onto natural reefs and beaches. Many marine organisms exhibit a high degree of movement or dispersal. The fish attracted to artificial reef zones vary from reef to reef depending on the reef's age, size and structure. Preferred habitats vary both between and within species, depending on an organism's developmental stage and behavior. Environments that are well-suited to larval to juvenile stages may differ from those favored by adults. For example, 1-2 year old Red Snapper ( Lutjanus campechanus ), show

11440-551: The neighboring Gulf of Mexico , Indonesia , Malaysia , Australia , and Africa . Gregory McIntosh, a BARINC employee, lauded the project to the attendees of a 1974 conference on artificial reefs: "Tires, which were an esthetic pollutant ashore, could be recycled, so to speak, to build a fishing reef at sea." With endorsement of the project by the US Army Corps of Engineers , the Broward County government approved

11583-538: The northeast before they were last noted along the northern shore of Lake Ontario in Eastern Ontario. Although Opal was a weak system located over the Yucatán Peninsula at the time, 350 people evacuated from Grand Isle, Louisiana on September 28 after rough surf associated with the distant cyclone began to threaten Louisiana Highway 1 —the only thoroughfare connecting Grand Isle with

11726-455: The ocean bottom nearer the beach in 2020, creating a new habitat to attract fish and kelp to a safer area. Florida is the site of many artificial reefs, many created from deliberately sunken ships, including Coast Guard cutters Duane and Bibb and the U.S. Navy landing ship Spiegel Grove . In the early 1970s, more than 2,000,000 used vehicle tires were dumped off the coast of Fort Lauderdale, Florida to form an artificial reef. However,

11869-650: The ocean was obscured from view by the dunes for miles, a flat open space opened up along U.S. Highway 98. The peak rainfall from Opal in Alabama was 19.42 inches (493 mm) 3 miles (4.8 km) east-northeast of Brewton, Alabama . Lesser amounts include 7.48 inches (190 mm) in Mobile and 6.1 inches (150 mm) in Anniston. The highest gust reported was a 95 mph (153 km/h) gust in Fort Rucker and

12012-406: The ocean's lethal openness—hole and crevice dwellers such as grouper , snapper , squirrelfish , eels and triggerfish . Opportunistic predators such as jack and barracuda also appear. Over months and years the reef structure becomes encrusted with algae , tunicates , hard and soft corals and sponges . An electrified reef is an artificial reef where a small low voltage electric charge

12155-409: The original installation. It has been argued that this approach to reef construction is fundamentally flawed. Artificial reefs, particularly opportunistic ones involving materials that were not originally intended for marine use, can degrade and cause damage to the natural habitat. If inappropriate materials are used in an artificial reef, they can interfere with the growth of algae which provide

12298-533: The parish. Voluntary evacuation orders for the Florida panhandle, which would ultimately be the most heavily affected area, also began the same day with several counties giving evacuation orders. Farther west, a mandatory evacuation order was placed on Mobile County, Alabama , by then- Governor Fob James . Just before noon on October 4, with the hurricane near landfall, Escambia , Okaloosa and Santa Rosa counties halted evacuations, instead ordering those still within vulnerable areas to seek shelter instead. However,

12441-602: The parkway. Linville Falls was evacuated; the Asheville and Gillespie Gap Districts were closed. Rockslides and mudslides had also been reported due to Opal. In West Virginia , 0.5–1.5 inches (13–38 mm) of rain were reported causing some schools to let out early. High winds associated with the remnants of Opal moved through southeast West Virginia on the 5th. High winds ranged between 35 and 45 mph (72 km/h) with some gusts to near 55 mph (89 km/h). Numerous trees, large branches, power lines and shingles off

12584-568: The pollutant threshold are too difficult to remove, permission to bypass their removal can be given by the EPA, as happened in the case of the ex- USS Oriskany . In spite of spending $ 20 million to decontaminate the vessel, the ship still contained an estimated 700 pounds of PCBs when it was sunk in 2006. Subsequent testing by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission over a four-year period found elevated levels of PCBs in fish living in

12727-617: The potential for overfishing and long-term damage to fisheries. This has implications for artisanal and industrial fishing management. There are concerns that the placement of opportunity artificial reefs will be abused and become a pretext for disguised ocean dumping. Regulatory measures have been put forward by the U.S. and internationally in an effort to counter abuses, but may provide little protection. Some artificial reefs have been found to be less stable than originally hoped, breaking into component parts that become ocean refuse, washing onto natural reefs and beaches and damaging them. In

12870-482: The potential for isolation by flooding. Although Opal was only a weak tropical storm when it affected the Yucatán Peninsula, its slow movement led to prolonged, flooding rains over much of the region. Tabasco received about 20 percent of its annual rainfall in four days due to the cyclone. Across Campeche and Tabasco, more than 42,000 people were forced to evacuate as rivers overflowed their banks. According to Notimex , approximately 100,000 people evacuated due to

13013-426: The presence of existing natural habitats and the needs of species at multiple developmental stages, including the need for reproductive and early stage habitat. The opportunistic use of shipwrecks and oil derricks as artificial reefs creates a new trophic structure for the local ecosystem . The trophic structure of artificial and natural reefs has been shown to differ strongly. Artificial reefs do not develop

13156-464: The project in 1974. That spring, more than 100 privately owned boats enthusiastically volunteered to assist with the project; accompanied by the US Navy 's USS  Thrush , thousands of tire bundles were simultaneously dropped onto the reef. The Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company provided equipment for the auspicious undertaking, even supporting the project so far as to drop a gold-painted tire from

13299-543: The record set by Hurricane Frederic 16 years prior. Rainfall stretched out to the area of Nova Scotia , but only up to 0.5 inches (13 mm) was reported there. In the spring of 1996, the World Meteorological Organization retired the name Opal from its rotating name lists due to the deaths and destruction the hurricane caused, and it will never again be used in the Atlantic basin. It

13442-544: The reef cleanup effort. The award recognized "outstanding partnerships that make a significant contribution toward the restoration and protection of our Nation's coastal and marine environment" and was the only environmental award of its kind given by the White House . Two days later in Hollywood, Florida , Coastal America and Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs David L. McGinnis presented

13585-399: The reef. The joint team first worked to remove the tires from where they were doing the most damage, abutting against natural reefs in the area. In 2007, the recovery effort brought approximately 10,000 tires ashore. In 2008, recovery stopped after 26 days on May 24 after retrieving 43,900 tires. That year, Florida spent approximately $ 140,000 (equivalent to about $ 198,000 in 2023) on

13728-458: The region reported weather conditions that were suggestive of a stronger system. As a result, the NHC upgraded the disturbance to tropical storm intensity at 12:00 UTC on September 30 while the storm was over the north-central coast of Yucatán; this classification resulted in the tropical cyclone being named Opal , which also made it the first Atlantic storm to be given a name starting with

13871-995: The remnants of Opal brought down trees and knocked out power in coastal areas of southern Maine. Some beach erosion occurred in Saco . Strong winds ripped away boats from their moorings in the Midcoast towns of Camden and Rockland . Wind and gale warnings were issued in Southern Ontario and the upper St. Lawrence River in accordance with the remnants of Opal by the Canadian Hurricane Centre on October 5. Accompanying winds reached 83 kilometres per hour (52 mph) in Toronto and up to 102 kilometres per hour (63 mph) in Southern Ontario, feeling trees and power lines. The remnants also spawned

14014-617: The remnants of Opal. The damage from the fallen tree and its limbs totaled out to one thousand dollars. Mesocyclones moving around Opal's eastern periphery within Maryland spawned three tornadoes in Charles , Prince George's , and Anne Arundel County . The first tornado tracked along State Route 425 between the towns of Ironside and Grayton. Along the tornado's path, several trees were uprooted or snapped; two sheds were destroyed and two others sustained roof damage. Windows were blown out of

14157-586: The result. The most serious flooding apparently occurred in Avery County where evacuations were required and tanks of propane were found floating in the Banner Elk River . Three deaths also occurred in the state. A man in Candler was killed when a falling tree destroyed his mobile home. Another man was killed near Marshall when a tree was blown onto him while he was helping cut other trees out of

14300-679: The roadway. 10 people were also injured by wind blown debris and from falling trees. Damage from high winds totaled up to $ 15 million. In Virginia , trees in the Shenandoah Valley and along the Allegheny Plateau were blown down by 40 mph (64 km/h) winds at higher elevations. Over 7000 people were without power and damage in Virginia totaled to $ 5000. The National Park Service reported dozens of trees blown down along Skyline Drive in two counties. In

14443-611: The roofs of homes were ripped off in the wind. The vast majority of damage occurred at elevations above two thousand feet. Damage from the wind totaled out to $ 2000. Large limbs were downed by high wind across from the remnants of Hurricane Opal in Preston County. Damage there totaled out to $ 1000. Damage in West Virginia totaled out to only $ 5,000. In Maryland , a large tree and its limbs along Maryland Route 495 near Bittinger were downed by high winds associated with

14586-518: The same area at near equal strength in 1975 . The two reported storm surges were 5 to 6 feet (1.5 to 1.8 m) above normal at Apalachicola and 2 to 4 feet (0.61 to 1.22 m) above normal at Sarasota . Opal caused about US$ 4.7 billion (1995 dollars) in damage, making it the third costliest hurricane at the time. Most of the structural damage occurred near the coastline on the Florida Panhandle, due to intense surge. Nearly

14729-662: The same award to the partner cleanup team from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. I am particularly proud of the many Sailors and Soldiers who have found a way to enhance their training on skills important to our Nation's readiness for war while also making a significant contribution to the health of our living ocean resources, [...] Just as you protect our Nation when serving overseas, at home you have found another way to protect our Nation's wellbeing. In 2009, recovery began on July 24 with thirty Army and Navy divers at Hugh Taylor Birch State Park , where it

14872-616: The same functions and diversity as natural reefs over time, unless their structure is similar to natural reefs. For example, the Sint Eustatius reef, nearly 200 years old, has developed a diverse and healthy ecosystem, but it has different and less abundant coral species than a nearby natural reef. As a result, artificial reefs can unbalance the natural ecosystem and affect nearby habitats, in some cases attracting non-native and invasive species that disrupt local ecosystems. In 2008, at Palmyra Atoll south of Hawaii, iron leaching from

15015-456: The ship to draw recreational divers away from natural reefs, allowing those reefs to recover from damage from overuse. Hurricane Opal Hurricane Opal was a large and powerful tropical cyclone that caused severe and extensive damage along the northern Gulf Coast of the United States in October 1995. The fifteenth named storm , ninth hurricane and strongest tropical cyclone of

15158-551: The ship's "reef". Off the coast of California, an artificial reef has been constructed to lure fish away from a toxic site. Over 35 years, the Montrose Chemical Corporation of California , a maker of DDT , improperly disposed of toxic chemical waste through the sewer system and by dumping barrels of waste into the ocean. As part of remediation efforts by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), 70,000 tons of quarry rock were placed on

15301-588: The southern sections of the St. Lawrence Seaway were upgraded into a storm warning for Erie alone. The gale warning for the other two sections remained. The shoreline of Lake Erie was under a beach erosion warning from Buffalo, New York to Ripley, New York . The Storm Prediction Center released a tornado watch for northern and central New Jersey and portions of New York and Connecticut on October 6. Significant non-surge areas of Escambia County, Florida , south of US 98 were included in evacuation areas because of

15444-478: The southern, or lower, portions of Plaquemines, St. Bernard, Lafourche , and Jefferson Parishes . The only significant gathering of persons in public shelters occurred in Plaquemines Parish , where 1,600 people were placed in public shelters. Although no direct injuries occurred from the hurricane, an indirect injury is attributed to the hurricane in a freak accident. A Jefferson Parish employee

15587-520: The spatial orientation, complexity, and shape of reef substrate, among others. On artificial reef structures intended for ecosystem enhancement, reef communities tend to develop in more or less predictable stages. First, where an ocean current encounters a vertical structure, it can create a plankton -rich upwelling that provides a reliable feeding spot for small fish such as sardines and minnows , which draw in pelagic predators such as tuna and sharks . Next come creatures seeking protection from

15730-495: The spring of 1996 and replaced with Olga for the 2001 season . The origins of Hurricane Opal were linked using satellite imagery and synoptic analyses to a tropical wave that left the western coast of Africa on September 11. Ten days later, the disturbance reached the Lesser Antilles after crossing the tropical Atlantic. Continuing westward, the disturbance showed little signs of organization before entering

15873-609: The state from Opal. Total rainfall across Jefferson County , where Louisville is located ranged from 2.4 inches (61 mm) at the Louisville International Airport to 3.5 inches (89 mm) at Fern Creek Road south of the Gene Snyder Freeway. Several trees were knocked down and soils were saturated after Opal passed through. A bridge washed out over Sulphur Creek and minor flooding was reported across Kentucky Route 80. Elizabethtown and

16016-474: The state had the citizens boil their water before drinking it because of a possibility that floodwater may have entered purification plants. A landslide triggered by Opal and damaged the Blue Ridge Parkway . Opal triggered a debris flow in the Poplar Cove area of Macon County. A flash flood from rainfall amounts typically ranged from four to six inches (100 to 150 mm) and closed roads and bridges were

16159-583: The steel restraints, they summarily failed—resulting in the loosing of over two million individual, lightweight tires. This newfound mobility destroyed any marine life that had thus far grown on the tires, and effectively prevented the growth of any new organisms. Furthermore, the tires were now easily subject to the tropical winds and storms that frequent the east coast of Florida, and continue to collide, at times with tremendous force, with natural coral reefs only 70 feet (21 m) away: compounding their futility with environmentally damaging side-effects. Lastly,

16302-664: The storm reached 55 mph (89 km/h) all across the lake with gusts to 70 mph (110 km/h) producing waves of 10 to 14 feet (3.0 to 4.3 m). Minor to moderate beach and shore erosion occurred in many areas, especially the western end of the lake. Localized flooding occurred in communities with low-lying areas along the lake. Boats were also grounded. Damage in Ohio totaled out to $ 205,000. In New Jersey , thunderstorms with heavy rain, averaging around 3.5 inches (89 mm) countywide, caused flooding of small streams and roadways including United States Route 46. The heavy rain

16445-451: The storm, especially Alabama , where the storm spawned many tornadoes and strong winds downed numerous trees and left about 2.6 million people without electricity. A total of 27 deaths were attributed to Opal in the United States. The hurricane overall left about $ 4.7 billion in damage, much of which took place in the US. Due to its destructive effects, the name Opal was retired in

16588-400: The storm. By October 1, an estimated 500,000 acres of crops had been destroyed by the floods. In San Francisco de Campeche , flood waters reached a depth of 6 ft (1.8 m). Governor Jorge Salomon ordered the closure of all government offices, businesses, and schools by October 2 in light of the extensive flooding. At least 60 towns across the state were isolated by

16731-435: The strong winds. A number of farms reported fields of corn blown over and ripe apples and other fruit being stripped from trees. Rainfall of 3.4 inches (86 mm) in less than 24 hours was measured at Mansfield , and most areas averaged 1.5 to 2.5 inches (38 to 64 mm) during the same period. Flooding was localized and not significant since very dry conditions preceded the storm. Sustained northeast winds ahead of

16874-454: The system a tropical depression at 18:00  UTC that day. At the time, the depression was centered 80 mi (130 km) south-southeast of Cozumel, Mexico . The primordial depression meandered across the Yucatán Peninsula during the three days following tropical cyclogenesis due to the lack of dominant steering currents . Despite remaining over land for an extended period, the depression developed organized rainbands , and ships in

17017-508: The tires by November 2019. The reef was originally constructed of concrete jacks in a 50-foot (15 m) diameter circle. In 1972, Broward Artificial Reef Inc. (BARINC) proposed the construction of an enlarged artificial reef to Broward County as a way to both dispose of old tires as well as lure more game fish to the area. Similarly designed reefs had already been constructed in the Northeastern United States ,

17160-427: The tires to go. By 2021, 4Ocean announced their plan to retrieve Osborne Reef tires in a 34-acre (14 ha) area north of the original drop site. The clean up would be partially funded by the sale of $ 29.00 bracelets made out of reef tires. Cave dive sites: Artificial reef An opportunity artificial reef is built from objects that were intended for other purposes, such as sinking oil rigs (through

17303-620: The tires were not properly secured to the reef structures, and ocean currents broke them loose, sending them crashing into the developing reef and its natural neighbors. Neptune Memorial Reef was originally conceived as an art project called The Atlantis Reef Project and was envisioned and created by Gary Levine and Kim Brandell. Burial at sea became a way of financing the project. As of 2011, about 200 "placements" had occurred. Cremated remains are mixed with concrete and either encased in columns or molded into sea-star, brain-coral, 15 feet (4.6 m) castings of lions or other shapes before entering

17446-571: The unusually active 1995 Atlantic hurricane season , Opal developed from the interaction of a tropical wave and a low-pressure area near the Yucatán Peninsula on September 27 as Tropical Depression Seventeen. The depression crossed the Yucatán Peninsula and intensified into a tropical storm on September 30. Opal intensified into a hurricane on October 2 after entering the Gulf of Mexico . The cyclone turned northeastward and strengthened significantly. By October 4, Opal

17589-659: The water. In 1921 the US battleship Massachusetts was scuttled in shallow water off the coast of Pensacola, Florida and then used as a target for experimental artillery. In 1956 the ship was declared the property of the state of Florida by the Florida Supreme Court . Since 1993 the wreck has been a Florida Underwater Archaeological Preserve and is included in the National Register of Historic Places . She serves as an artificial reef and recreational dive site. The world's largest artificial reef

17732-937: The weekend. An 80-foot (24 m) gash was torn out of Interstate 285 between Roswell Road and the Glenridge Connector in Atlanta. Schools were closed on October 5 and 6 throughout the cities of Atlanta , Marietta, and in Fulton, Coweta, Carroll and Douglas counties. A total of 47 of 101 schools were closed in Dekalb County alone. Four state parks were closed after Opal: Moccasin Creek Park , Black Rock Mountain , Vogel State Park , and Fort Mountain State Park . 273 stations reported many falling traffic lights. Agricultural experts estimated that damage to

17875-607: The west of Buffalo , New York on October 5 and 6. Two to 3 inches (38–64 mm) of rain fell over much of the area with isolated amounts of near four inches (100 mm) over parts of the western Southern Tier. Sustained winds were estimated between 35 and 40 mph (56 and 64 km/h), but the easterly winds did down some trees and power lines. In Oneida County , the high winds downed trees and wires in New York Mills, Waterville, Sylvan Beach, North Bay, Lee Center, Rome, McConnellsville and Verona. In Saratoga County

18018-526: The western Caribbean Sea on September 23. There, the wave became entangled with a broad area of low-pressure east of Nicaragua , and the combined system drifted west-northwestward toward the Yucatán Peninsula ; but even then, the disturbance lacked significant development. However, a burst of thunderstorm activity occurred near the storm's center on September 27, prompting the National Hurricane Center  (NHC) to declare

18161-470: The world. You get down about 20 feet and it starts to come into sight, it's actually really – it's like the moon or something. It's weird, it doesn't look like anything you could imagine, it's just tires for as far as you can see down there. Army Diver Jason Jakovenko In 2001, Dr. Robin Sherman of Nova Southeastern University was awarded a grant of US$ 30,000 (equivalent to $ 51,622 in 2023) by

18304-709: Was 8.66 inches (220 mm) in Marietta , 18.08 inches (459 mm) in Peachtree City, and 7.17 in (182 mm) in west Atlanta . Southern Georgia only reported 1–3 inches (25–76 mm) of rain, while the northern part of the state reached about 5–7 inches (130–180 mm). The peak wind gust in Georgia was a 79 mph (127 km/h) gust in Marietta, a 70 mph (110 km/h) gust in Columbus , and

18447-470: Was a 145 mph (233 km/h) gust at the latter. Lower gusts were 115 miles per hour (185 km/h) at Eglin Air Force Base and an 88 mph (142 km/h) gust at Pensacola P.N.S. The highest sustained winds were 84 mph (135 km/h) at Hurlburt Field and 80 mph (130 km/h) at Eglin Air Force Base . Opal brought heavy surge to the area, 8 to 15 feet (2.4 to 4.6 m) in some places, comparing itself to Hurricane Eloise , which struck

18590-420: Was a bad idea. Ray McAllister, BARINC founder Ultimately, little marine life has been successful in latching onto the man-made reef and the majority never even had the opportunity to do so. When deposited, while a few tires were individual loose entities, the majority were bound together with nylon or steel clips (or bands). As there were no exceptional efforts made to ensure the non- corrodibility of

18733-458: Was a record at the time; however, this number was surpassed by Hurricane Ivan in 2004 . Damage was heavy far inland, all the way to Montgomery , where sustained winds reached 90 mph (140 km/h). Highest rainfalls in Mississippi were 5 inches (130 mm) throughout the eastern side of the state with lower amounts going westward. Tropical-storm-force winds were reported along

18876-563: Was also in effect for portions of the Upper Ohio Valley , the Mid-Atlantic region, the central Appalachians , and the lower Great Lakes . Wind warnings were in effect for northwestern South Carolina all the way to western New York . A gale watch was also in effect for Lake Erie , Lake Ontario , and the southern sections of the St. Lawrence Seaway . Six hours later, the gale warnings over Lake Erie , Lake Ontario , and

19019-896: Was also reported in Caledonia County , in Rutland County , in Clarendon and Chittenden and in Orleans County in Derby Center. Total damage in Vermont totaled out to $ 135,000. Heavy winds and rain associated with the remnants of Opal brought down trees and knocked out power in southwestern and northern New Hampshire . One person was injured in Marlborough when a large tree blew onto his moving pickup truck. In Maine , heavy winds and rain associated with

19162-547: Was an intense 150 mph (240 km/h), Category 4 hurricane . With a minimum pressure of 916 millibars (916 hPa; 27.0 inHg), Hurricane Opal was the most intense category 4 Atlantic hurricane on record. However, the cyclone abruptly weakened to a low-end Category 3 hurricane prior to making landfall on the Florida Panhandle near Pensacola later that day. The storm quickly unraveled as it moved inland and became extratropical on October 5. The remnants of Opal moved northward and dissipated over Ontario

19305-436: Was created by sinking of the 44,000 ton aircraft carrier USS  Oriskany off the coast of Pensacola , Florida , in 2006. The second-largest artificial reef is USNS Hoyt S. Vandenberg , a former World War II era troop transport that served as a spacecraft-tracking ship after the war. The Vandenberg was scuttled seven miles off Key West on May 27, 2009, in 140 feet (43 m) of clear water. Supporters expected

19448-522: Was estimated over a total of $ 1 million. Damage in Hamilton County include a circus was left stranded at a campground and needed to be evacuated. A number of residences and businesses were also surrounded by water and occupants were to be evacuated. Total damage in Tennessee totaled out at $ 2.02 million. In Kentucky , 1 to 5 inches (25 to 127 mm) of rain was reported throughout

19591-614: Was injured while attempting to lower a large flag on October 4. The employee, who was holding onto a rope attached a flag, was tossed high into the air, and suffered severe injuries when he fell back to the ground. Total damage in Louisiana totaled out to US$ 200,000 (1995 dollars). Breaking swells from Opal in Texas caused water to spill across at the usual wash-over points which damaged several vehicles. The peak rainfall in Georgia

19734-473: Was localized and not significant since drought conditions preceded the storm. The prolonged period of strong winds brought down trees and limbs along with some power lines. At least one automobile was damaged by a downed tree in Erie. Several farms reported fields of corn blown down and apples and other fruit being stripped from trees. The actual crop damage estimate was unknown. The remnants of Opal passed just to

19877-572: Was much larger, at least 60,000 cubic meters, and was somewhat successful in its primary objective of shoreline stabilization, but less so in improving surfing. Several projects in Australia have used stone to augment existing sites. Cable Station Reef added limestone rocks to an existing reef. At Burkitts Reef on the Woongarra Coast, large boulders were broken down to fill gaps in an existing boulder and gravel reef. At Palm Beach Reef on

20020-506: Was overwhelmed by storm surge. Numerous homes were under 3 to 10 feet (0.91 to 3.05 m) of water. Residents were not allowed to return to the island until the homes could be secured. A Humvee tour was arranged by the National Guard so home owners could 'see' the damage, but the homeowners were not allowed off the bus. Sand dunes along the stretch of US 98, normally 25 feet (7.6 m) high, were removed by wind and surge. Where once

20163-629: Was recorded in extreme northwestern South Carolina and came in reducing amounts around the rest of the state. Heavy rainfalls closed roads and bridges, causing $ 24 million in crop and property damage. A tornado in Chesterfield, South Carolina caused many trees to be blown down in the Carolina Sandhills National Wildlife Refuge . Trees were blown down in Orangeburg, one of those trees fell onto

20306-706: Was represented as the first significant dent in the drought that had affected northern New Jersey since September 1994. Storm totals included 6.7 inches (170 mm) in Wawayanda, 5.3 (135 mm) in Hackettstown , 4.5 inches (110 mm) in Oak Ridge , 4.2 inches (110 mm) in Clinton and 4.10 inches (104 mm) in Pequannock . The remnants of Opal caused severe thunderstorms that uprooted trees near Belvidere . Trees and wires were down in scattered parts of

20449-541: Was thought about 300,000 tires were caught against a natural reef. Loading the caught tires onto the Army craft Brandy Station , the first day's haul brought approximately 1,400 tires ashore. Wrapping up for the year in mid-August, Coastal America's William Nuckols told the Associated Press that cleanup efforts have thus far recovered approximately 73,000 tires from the reef. By the time other operations required

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