artificial reef coast florida constructed concrete feet diameter circle 1970s reef subject ambitious expansion project utilizing old discarded tires project ultimately failed reef come considered environmental disaster ultimately harm good coastal florida waters false starts cleanup efforts began united_states military took project cleanup exercise provides military real world training environment diving recovery personnel coupled benefit helping florida coast significant costs state construction proposed construction enlarged artificial reef way dispose old tires lure game fish area similarly designed reefs constructed neighboring gulf_of_mexico indonesia malaysia australia africa employee lauded project attendees conference artificial reefs tires ashore recycled speak build fishing reef sea endorsement project government approved project spring privately owned boats enthusiastically volunteered assist project accompanied uss thousands tire simultaneously dropped reef provided equipment undertaking supporting project far drop gold painted tire site culmination project deposit million tires bound steel clips acres ocean floor approximately feet offshore depth feet multiple concrete spread circle feet diameter failure ultimately little marine life successful man reef majority opportunity deposited tires individual loose entities majority bound steel clips bands exceptional efforts ensure non steel restraints failed resulting million individual lightweight tires newfound mobility destroyed marine life far grown tires effectively prevented growth new organisms furthermore tires easily subject tropical winds storms frequent east coast florida continue times tremendous force natural coral reefs feet away environmentally damaging effects lastly concern adjacent coastal areas tires remaining boundaries hurricane managed spread tires florida panhandle west pensacola deposited thousands tires north_carolina beaches project nature fail indonesia malaysia mounted enormous tire reef programs 1980s seeing failure tire reefs beaches reef destruction director strategic conservation said interview don know cases success tire reefs year removed tires beaches world cleanup awarded grant begin tire removal program able coordinate removal tires reef cost estimated tire florida environmental officials began long process setting motion plan remove tires original estimate million led plan arrange deal companies construction damages reefs previously destructive construction replacement reefs state require removing tires reef plan faced criticism environmental groups felt destruction marine habitats florida follow plans year project clear tires site commenced military involvement contacted united_states assistant secretary innovative readiness training program looks civil military projects improve military readiness address needs american public said cleanup easily met requirements project allows military divers army crew members real world training wartime salvage importantly exercises federal state county agencies skill sets significance aftermath katrina type natural disaster beginning june united_states military began best efficient processes cleanup effort barring operational commitments engagements military divers hope use project training platform years recover maximum number tires possible day office united_states federal government tasked coordinating cleanup reef instrumental deal florida government million cover transport recycling tires florida estimated project years timeline won allow removal million tires majority damage causing coastline banks predicted decades reefs rebuild summer saw navy army divers based base florida working clean reef joint team worked remove tires damage natural reefs area recovery effort brought approximately tires ashore recovery stopped days tires year florida spent approximately cleanup constituted transport tires facility neighboring georgia burnt fuel paper mill key members cleanup effort army captain engineer dive team august presented letter president obama participation reef cleanup effort award recognizes outstanding partnerships significant contribution restoration protection nation coastal marine environment environmental award kind given white_house days later hollywood california principal deputy assistant secretary awarded partner cleanup team award engineer dive team deployed march year stint unable participate year cleanup term particularly proud sailors soldiers found way enhance training skills important nation readiness war making significant contribution health living ocean resources protect nation serving overseas home found way protect nation recovery began july thirty army navy divers thought tires caught natural reef loading caught tires army craft day haul brought approximately tires ashore wrapping year mid august told associated_press cleanup efforts far recovered approximately tires reef
Osborne Reef