Friday, May 8, 2020

Franklin County will get some state money next year to help fund construction of a new artificial reef in state waters off St. George Island

 Franklin County will get some state money next year to help fund construction of a new artificial reef in state waters off St. George Island.

County coordinator Michael Moron said that the county has received conceptual approval for 60 thousand dollars for the funding program for the reef.

The state is currently drafting the formal contract agreement and the county will sign off on it when it is complete.

The reef will be located about 8 and a half miles due south of the Bob Sikes Cut; The reef will be called the Buddy Ward Memorial reef.

Earlier this year the reef project received a big donation from the estate of builder Ben Withers who recently passed away.

The estate donated a tug boat and a barge which can be used as reef material.

The barge is 60 by 24 feet long.

Coleen Marine out of Port St. Joe has even offered to donate their time and material to deploy the material.

That section of reef will be called the Ben Withers Memorial Reef.

The items still have to be cleaned so it will take a while before the barge and tug can be sunk – it will likely happen before the summer.




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