Last week New York Governor Andrew M. Cuomo announced that his state will continue its second year of artificial reef expansion using recycled materials. Steel from the Staten Island Expressway, Erie Canal, and the Kew Gardens and Kosciuszko Bridges will be strategically placed at the Fire Island reef near Long Island. The expanded reef will provide a new marine habitat, promote biodiversity, and restore fishery resources.
Almost 1,000 tons of materials were donated to the project, including steel bridge girders, steel pipe, steel sign structure, sections of a lift bridge, and more. The materials will be cleaned of contaminants before being sunk at the 744-acre site, culminating in the largest artificial reef expansion in the state’s history.
"Reefs are great for the environment and the economy, and the new reefs created under our comprehensive artificial reef program are already incredibly successful," Governor Cuomo said. "We are going to continue this success by bolstering the Fire Island reef with an assortment of material and show that New York, and Long Island in particular, can and will be the showcase to demonstrate how to build a green economy and a green environment for the rest of the nation."
Read the full press release from the governor’s office here.