Hernando County Board of County Commissioners
Water & Air Research, Inc. was awarded a multi-year contract by the Hernando County Board of County Commissioners to provide planning, design, permitting, and monitoring services for several new artificial reef sites in the coastal waters offshore of Hernando Beach, Florida. The proposed reefs were funded by the RESTORE Act and are intended to enhance recreational opportunities while improving connectivity between previously installed artificial reefs and natural seagrass and hardbottom habitats offshore of Hernando County.
Water & Air worked with County staff to identify, compile, and evaluate existing artificial reef data and resources. Available information included reef locations, GIS shapefiles of seagrass and hardbottom habitats, high resolution aerial imagery, and sonar data. These resources were compiled into a GIS geodatabase to support site screening and evaluation. A total of 39 prospective reef sites were initially screened, resulting in the selection of 12 reef sites for pre construction monitoring and permitting.
Water & Air conducted underwater marine surveys to evaluate the feasibility, constructability, and permitting potential of the proposed sites. Surveys included magnetometer, seismic profile, side-scan sonar, and multibeam bathymetry data collection to characterize bottom types, benthic resources, and potential marine archaeological resources. Underwater photography and videography, along with aerial drone imagery, were used to document and ground-truth site conditions. Sediment depths and grain size were evaluated at each site, and in-situ diver surveys and reviews of critical habitat maps were conducted to assess the potential presence of threatened and endangered species. Detailed reports, site narratives, and maps were prepared to document the findings. Baseline and quarterly monitoring were completed, final design and post-implementation monitoring plans were delivered, and permits were received from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.