Rock Ridges
This site on the Shark River Artificial Reef consists of two long ridges of seven huge rock piles each, with one long valley east-west between them. Between piles, there are smaller valleys. Each ridge contains approximately two million tons ( or one million cubic yards ) of granite, blasted and dredged from the bottom of New York harbor between September 2002 and September 2003. Peak depths range from 85 to 105 ft, bottom depth is 130 ft. In addition, 15 Redbird subway cars were deposited on or near one of the piles. A single similar rockpile is located in shallower water on the Axel Carlson Reef.
( Note: Vertical and horizontal scales are not equivalent )
Side-scan sonar animation courtesy of:
Army Corps of Engineers
The real blue-gray color of the granite is illuminated by the strobe. The freshly-dumped rock here is barren and clean, but that will quickly change. Note the small fish in residence already.
I was expecting large boulders, but instead, most of the material is more like gravel. This picture was taken shortly after dumping ceased on this site. A fluke perches on a high rock, not uncommon behavior.
Blues swarm around the still-barren rock pile and lobsters have already been found among the lower stones. This is going to become an incredible fishing site when the usual covering of mussels and other growth fills in.
Several more rock ridges are currently under construction nearby, along the east edge of the reef.
Artificial Reef Sites, Artificial Reefs, New Jersey Artificial Reef Sites, New Jersey Artificial Reefs, Shark River Artificial Reef,
Depth: 120-140 ft
More: Shark River Artificial Reef ...
All manner of concrete, steel, and stone rubble from dredging, demolition projects, and other construction is used as artificial reef materials. This material is generally available at very low cost or free from construction companies who are more than happy to get rid of it. Transportation costs determine where this material is used by the Reef Program.
More: Rock & Rubble ...
- Type:
- 250 "Redbird" subway cars - NYC Subway system - steel bodies / frames
- Built:
- 1959-1960 - American Car & Foundry - Model R26 # 7750-7859
1960-1961 - American Car & Foundry - Model R28 # 7860-7959
1962-1963 - St. Louis Car - Model R29 # 8570-8805
1962-1963 - St. Louis Car - Model R33 # 8806-9345
1963-1964 - St. Louis Car - Model R36 # 9346-9769 - Specs:
- ( 51 x 9 ft ) 15,000 to 18,000 pounds (body)
- Sunk:
- 50 cars - Cape May Reef on July 3, 2003
50 cars - Deepwater Reef on July 16, 2003
50 cars - Atlantic City Reef on July 25, 2003
50 cars - Garden State North Reef on Sept 3, 2003
50 cars - Shark River Reef on Oct 14, 2003
619 cars - Delaware Reef 11 from Aug 2001 to Nov 2003 - Sponsor:
- New York City Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA)
- anti-
Sponsor: - Environmental group Clean Ocean Action lobbied aggressively and almost successfully to prevent the use of these subway cars as artificial reefs in New Jersey, resulting in most of the cars going to other states.
- GPS:
- too many to list, and all gone anyway
- Depth:
- Depths vary by location between 80 ft and 130 ft.
More: Redbird Subway Cars ...
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