Photo caption: The installation of the eco discs. Photo credit: Heather Reed. Located three miles off the Three Mile Bridge in Pensacola Bay, Florida is Deadman’s Island.  Once known as ship’s careening ground, U.S. quarantine station for yellow fever, fish fertilizer plant, glue factory and marine railway, this small, historically significant island is also an ecological gem.  Despite its tremendous cultural and biological value, the island’s shoreline is threatened by severe erosion.  In addition to the natural wave action and sand movement over time, extreme weather events like Hurricane Dennis, and activities such as bridge construction, dredging, and hard armoring of banks with rip rap and seawalls, have led to a deficit of sediment so that there is not enough sand transported to the peninsula to replenish the shoreline.  As a result, several neighboring ecosystems, including a 10,000 year old pristine salt marsh, a marine oak hammock, bird sanctuary, dune and wetland, and the wildlife that they harbor, as well as historic shipwrecks and a cemetery, are threatened.

The Deadman’s Island Restoration Project, sponsored by the Southeast Aquatic Resources Partnership (SARP)/NOAA Community Based Restoration Program (CRP) in 2009, and undertaken by the City of Gulf Breeze and a variety of partners and funders, is using cutting edge restoration techniques that incorporate natural materials and habitat elements, protect the shoreline from erosion, and provide critical habitat for fish, birds and other bay wildlife.  While the project was temporarily delayed due to potential impacts from the Gulf oil spill in April 2010, there has been continued community involvement (the City has hosted clean-ups, oyster monitoring, and an oyster drill picking party) and renewed momentum.  The most recent efforts have included the installation of eco discs, stackable limestone and fossilized and recycled oyster shell reefs that are designed to lessen wave energy, stimulate development of the oyster reef breakwater, and provide habitat for small marine animals.  Created by local Orange Beach businessman David Walter, once established the eco discs will provide spawning areas for oysters and refuge for small fish.  The project has included community participation, with students from Little Flower Elementary and Catholic High School helping to design and create around 20 prototypes.

While overall restoration efforts are ongoing, project manager Heather Reed notes, "With the hopeful milestone of the oil spill being finally over, we are pleased that the SARP-funded portion of the restoration is now complete and that there is a sense of relief in being able to slow the erosion of Deadman's Island."  In addition to the oyster breakwater and shoreline stabilization for erosion control, the multi-phased project will include the restoration of 2.5 acres of pilot seagrass.  These combined measures are anticipated to increase marine fish habitat and food sources, sportfish diversity, as well as bird populations needing a Spartina alternaflora sand habitat.

For more information about the Deadman’s Island restoration project and to find out how you can get involved, click here or contact Heather Reed, Project Manager, at heather_reed@juno.com or (850) 417-7008.