DEP Coral Protection & Restoration Program (CPR) and Coral Reef Conservation Program (CRCP) spent two days collecting sediment and water samples in Broward County as part of a DEP CPR-funded project to investigate pollutants in sediment pore water. The DEP dive teams collected over 60 samples across the two days with topside support from NOAA National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS).

The Biscayne Bay Aquatic Preserve (BBAP) water quality team performed station maintenance at the Rickenbacker Basin (BBMRRB) continuous monitoring station located in North Bay, Biscayne Bay near the mouth of the Miami River.

On August 21st, the Biscayne Bay Aquatic Preserves (BBAP) team worked with Miami Dade County’s Department of Environmental Resource Management (DERM) to clean up the Coco Plum Mangrove Preserve in Coral Gables. The team did a tremendous job pulling all kinds of debris out of the mangroves, removing well over 1,000 lbs. of debris.

Lara Bracci, land-based sources of pollution coordinator for the Coral Reef Conservation Program, and Kylie Morgan, coral protection project coordinator for the Coral Protection and Restoration Program, assisted the Biscayne Bay Aquatic Preserves team in swapping data sondes in the bay. They snorkeled to clean the equipment and exchanged the sondes.

Welcome to Biscayne Bay Aquatic Preserve — Miami’s blue heart. Step away from the busy city and immerse yourself in all that nature has to offer. Dive into this aquatic preserve and meet some of Miami’s favorite locals: manatees, bottlenose dolphins, turtles and the lovely Florida sea hare. Explore mangrove islands with magnificent frigatebirds or relax on the shore of one of the many spoil islands.