Construction Starts On $1.6M Artificial Reef Project Off LI Beach
NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- Rockaway Beach is gearing up to welcome an expansion of their under-the-sea community that environmental officials hope will improve local marine wildlife.
Federal and state permits were secured for the Rockaway Reef project -- a 413-acre area off of Long Island's Rockaway Beach.
The $1.6 million plan will place 450 sections of concrete-coated steel pipe to expand the network of individual patch reefs throughout the site.
Under previous permits, thousands of tons of rock, concrete and steel were placed there over the decades since 1965. The most current permit had ended in 1989.
Rockaway Reef is one of 11 sites managed through NYSDEC's Artificial Reef Program.
Environmental officials said an expansion of the man-made reef will help improve marine life habitats and foster better opportunities for recreational fishing and diving.
Transco-Williams, the company associated with the Rockaway Delivery Lateral Pipeline Project, will pay for the expansion.
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