Save Florida’s Reef from Reckless Dredging

What you need to know

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (the Corps) is pushing forward a massive expansion dredging project at Fort Lauderdale’s Port Everglades. Under current plans, intensive construction, set to begin in 2028, would unleash plumes of sediment pollution that could smother millions of corals and hundreds of acres of reef. 

Miami Waterkeeper spent over a decade working to hold the Corps accountable for the damage caused during the last major dredging project at PortMiami, just 30 miles away, in 2013-2015. The disastrous dredge buried over 278 acres of reef and killed millions of corals — and most of the damage was never repaired. After reviewing the Corps’ environmental strategy, Miami Waterkeeper has determined that the proposed Port Everglades project would be an even bigger disaster, leaving many protections on the table by refusing to apply lessons from PortMiami or implement proven approaches to minimize the damage.

Port Everglades is now positioned to cause the largest permitted impact on coral in U.S. history. Its reefs are already hanging on by a thread, and if we don’t learn from past mistakes, this project could be the nail in the coffin for already imperiled corals, conch, and other reef creatures. 

Florida's reefs are what makes the region unique. They protect coastlines from storms and erosion, provide habitat for fish, support key ecotourism, and inspire and enliven us all. That means we have no excuses: We can’t let the remaining reefs disappear. 

Campaign goals

Key facts

• Coral reefs provide Florida with over $665 million in coastal protection value every year, reducing wave energy from storm surges by an average of over 95%.  

• The reef adjacent to Port Everglades is still home to some of the last populations of threatened staghorn corals and breeding grounds of the threatened queen conch.

• Reef restoration is not currently possible at the scale proposed, meaning that millions of corals are likely to die without any chance of being restored.

• Coral reefs are a jewel of biodiversity, a beacon for tourism and fishing industries, and an invaluable resource at the heart of South Florida’s cultural heritage. 

• The Corps is pushing this project so that Port Everglades can accommodate even bigger cargo ships. They don’t need it for current operations. The economic necessity of this $1 billion-plus project is unclear.

What happens next?

The Corps’ Biological Assessment is currently being reviewed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). As Miami Waterkeeper and its partners are continuing to meet with Port Everglades and political leaders to help shape responsible dredging plans, it is increasingly critical to highlight the widespread support for environmental protection. Live in Florida and want to take your advocacy a step further? Take a quick moment to write an email to your senators and other members of Congress call on them to stop the Port Everglades dredging project until the proper precautions are taken.