Coral and Canals Big Winners in Pollution Settlement

During the latest Monroe County Commissioner’s meeting, funds were approved to be allocated for coral restoration and canal cleanup projects along the keys. The funds are from the $1.1 million provided to the county from the settlement reached between the federal government and Transocean Deepwater Inc. over the 2010 oil burn and spill. The award is part of the RESTORE Act, which is responsible for dispersing the funds. More money is expected once the final decision regarding British Petroleum’s liability for the pollution is announced. In the meantime, Monroe County is ready to have restoration work begin.

Half of the $1.1 million received will go toward coral restorations along the Keys. The funds will be administered by the Nature Conservancy, providing new reef plantings including stag-horn coral grown from nurseries. There is also a plan to work on reviving boulder corals with the re-plantings. The restoration project work will be split by region, with the Coral Restoration Foundation working in the Upper Keys, the Mote Marine Laboratory in the Lower Keys, and the state Fish & Wildlife Research Institute completing the work in the middle Keys.

Islamorada will receive $100,000 of the RESTORE Act funds to use toward Canal restoration. The work will be in addition to what the city has already accomplished, furthering the efforts to keep the area’s canals clean. Islamorada has already installed an air bubbler curtain at Treasure Harbor with their own municipal funds, and has indicated that the installation of two weed barrier projects are ready to go. Thus the additional funding comes at just the right time.

While no oil from the 2010 spill and burn reached the shores along the Keys, the year was greatly marred by keeping tourists and vacationers away at great cost to local businesses. It is wonderful to see we have not been forgotten in terms of RESTORE Act settlement funds, and that the funds are going to improve our environment is only fitting. If you are in the market for a new home with the right fit, and are looking at the Key West area, my team and I are here to help you with all the processes involved in finding the home of your dreams. Please contact me, JimmyLane, for all of your real estate needs.