Deep sea divers have something to check out at a reef off the Southwest Florida coast.
The city of Naples and the Naples Pier rebuild contractor have deployed 59 pilings from the demolished pier to the Wasmer reef site 10 miles offshore of Gordon Pass in the Gulf.
The pilings weigh 300 tons and will establish a foundation of a new underwater ecosystem.
The Wasmer reef is more than a decade old and is thriving with coral, aquatic vegetation, invertebrates, aquatic mullusk and tunicates as refuge and food for juvenile and mature fish species alike.
Placing the pier pilings at the reef is a legacy to the beloved Naples landmark that was devastated by Hurricane Ian in 2022. It also avoids adding to waste at landfills.
The deployment of the pilings was done the pier rebuild contractors Shoreline Foundation, Inc., and marine and environmental engineers Turrell, Hall & Associates (THA).
The project was possible through a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers permit and was overseen by the environmental engineer at THA.
It marks the eighth reef created within the Wasmer site. The reef was first established in 2015 through a multi-agency collaboration funded by BP oil spill grants and private donations.
In case you forgot….
The pier rebuild is a $23.5-million project that will take 18 months for a July 2027 completion. The four month demolition part began in January 2026.
The new pier be supported by larger pilings, with diameters of 18 inches as opposed to the previous 14 inches, and it will be 3 feet higher than before.
The new pier will be built stronger and more resilient to future storms, with an accessible design and features to protect local wildlife.
In March the Naples City Council stuck to an earlier plan to not have a concession stand but is going to allow portable carts on the landside of the pier.
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Liz Freeman is a health care reporter. Reach her by emailing lfreeman@naplesnews.com
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This article originally appeared on Naples Daily News: Naples Pier pilings get new life at offshore reef
Reporting by Liz Freeman, Fort Myers News-Press & Naples Daily News / Naples Daily News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
