Article by Larry Jock
Local CCA Chapter spearheading Reef Star project
The Maryland Atlantic Coast Chapter of the Coastal Conservation Association, led by President Frank Watkins, is spearheading an effort to drop clusters of 12 “Reef Stars” within 10 miles of the Ocean City coastline.
To get the project going, Watkins obtained a grant from the Choptank Electric Trust to build the mold needed to create the Reef Star. Harkins Concrete, located in Salisbury, MD, agreed to fill the molds for free with excess concrete, reinforcing the Reef Star with rebar for additional strength.
The CCA has agreed to purchase the necessary rebar and biodegradeable mold lubricant, but are looking to obtain an additional grant and/or contributions to pay for the materials. There is also a need for a company to donate a flatbed truck or trailer to transport the Reef Stars from the Harkins concrete plant in Pittsville, MD to a storage area in West Ocean City and eventually to the Ocean City Reef Foundation barge in the Commercial Harbor before they are ultimately dropped into the Atlantic.
Contributions are also being sought to be used to purchase concrete from Harkins Concrete to accelerate the project. About 1.25 yards of concrete is needed to build each Reef Star. Both the CCA and the Ocean City Reef Foundation are 501C-3 tax exempt organizations, making donations tax deductible.
“The building of Reef Stars is not a once and done project.” said Watkins. “The waters off the Maryland coast have very little natural reefs within 10 miles of the coast. Building these large, long lasting, environmentally friendly artificial reefs will greatly improve marine and fish habitat near Ocean City. This is a win-win project that is good for marine habitat and good for local, recreational fishermen.”
To make a donation to the project, contact Frank Watkins at 410-422-3677 or the Ocean City Reef Foundation at 410-208-0064.
