Segment II Mitigation Reef

In 2016, the Broward County Shore Protection Project - Segment II placed approximately 650,000 cubic yards of sand along Pompano Beach, Lauderdale-By-The-Sea, and Fort Lauderdale shorelines to restore the beach and dune. To mitigate for unavoidable impacts to nearshore hardbottom habitat associated with the sand placement, project permits (issued by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and United States Army Corps of Engineers) required the construction of 6.8 acres of nearshore mitigation reef directly offshore of the sand placement shoreline.

Approximately half of the mitigation reef has been constructed to date. The remaining half of the reef is anticipated to be constructed in the spring/summer 2026.

The mitigation reef will be located approximately 1,500 feet offshore of the Town of Lauderdale-By-The-Sea in water depths just under 20 feet. The remaining reef to be constructed will be made of large limestone boulders.

Half of the mitigation reef offshore of Lauderdale-By-The-Sea was constructed in 2021-2022 using individual concrete and limestone rock modules specifically designed for the project. Construction is expected to resume in spring/summer 2026 with large limestone boulders. The intent of the mitigation reef is to mimic natural nearshore hardbottom habitat and encourage colonization of benthic organisms, corals, fish, sea turtles, and other marine life.