The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has withdrawn its state permit application for the Port Everglades Expansion Dredging project, signaling a major shift after more than a decade of advocacy.
According to Miami Waterkeeper, the move is a critical victory for Florida’s Coral Reef, the only nearshore coral reef in the continental U.S.
Reefs by the Numbers
95%: Amount of wave energy reduced by the reef.
$675 Million: Annual value of coastal protection provided by the reef.
10 Million: Number of corals estimated to be at risk from the original dredge plan.
80%: Decline in Florida coral cover since the 1970s.
The Corps indicated that project elements are being reconsidered, which may change the project’s scope. National oceanic and atmospheric administration (NOAA) officials previously warned the dredge could result in the “largest impact to coral reefs permitted in U.S. history,” threatening more than 10 million corals, including the functionally extinct staghorn coral, as well as queen conch, dolphins and turtles.
The reef provides more than just beauty, it reduces wave energy by an average of 95%, equating to $675 million in annual coastal protection. However, Florida’s coral cover has declined by more than 80% since the 1970s.
The push to halt the project is rooted in the 2013-2015 PortMiami dredging, where sediment plumes killed millions of corals and smothered 278 acres of reef, far exceeding the Corps’ original environmental predictions.
“This hard-fought pause is more than a decade in the making,” said Dr. Rachel Silverstein, CEO of Miami Waterkeeper. “Our advocacy is working, but until there is clear confirmation this project will not move forward in a way that harms our reefs, we must remain vigilant.”
While the news was cheered by the diving community and environmental groups like the Florida Wildlife Federation, leaders urge supporters to stay engaged via StopTheDredge.com to ensure a permanent win for the ecosystem.