Shoreline Foundation Helps Turn Naples Pier Debris into a Thriving Underwater Reef

Concrete pilings from the hurricane-damaged Naples Pier are deployed at the Wasmer Reef site, approximately 10 miles offshore of Gordon Pass.

From Demolition to Conservation: Shoreline Foundation Helps Create a New Naples Reef

As reconstruction of the Naples Pier moves forward, the story of what happened to the hurricane-damaged materials is one worth telling. Rather than sending demolished pier concrete to a landfill, the City of Naples found a way to give it new purpose beneath the Gulf waters, and Shoreline Foundation was proud to be part of making that happen.

Turning Debris into an Ecosystem

On April 24, the City of Naples, Shoreline Foundation, and marine and environmental engineers Turrell, Hall & Associates deployed 59 concrete pilings from the hurricane-damaged pier at the Wasmer Reef site, located approximately 10 miles offshore of Gordon Pass in the Gulf of Mexico.

The deployment marks the eighth reef created within the Wasmer site, which was first established in 2015 through a multi-agency collaboration funded by BP oil spill grants and private donations. Over the past decade, the reef has grown into a thriving underwater ecosystem, hosting corals, aquatic vegetation, invertebrates, bivalves, and tunicates that provide refuge and food for fish species of all ages.

A Milestone in the Rebuilding Process

This deployment represents a meaningful milestone in the recovery effort following Hurricane Ian. The reuse of pier materials for reef building was made possible through a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers permit and was overseen by Turrell, Hall & Associates. Dive teams confirmed site conditions before and after deployment to ensure full compliance with all permit requirements.

Pier pilings not selected for the reef were also diverted from the landfill. Those materials were delivered to a recycling facility where they will be processed into recycled concrete aggregate for use in road construction.

Building with Purpose

At Shoreline Foundation, we believe that responsible construction goes beyond what gets built. It includes how we handle every part of the process, from groundbreaking to the materials left behind. Being part of a project that turns storm damage into a living reef is a reminder of what thoughtful coastal work can look like.

The Naples Pier rebuild continues, and we are honored to play a role in restoring this iconic landmark for the community it has served since 1888.

Read More About the Naples Pier Reef Deployment

For the full news story on the reef deployment, visit WINK News.