New Jersey Artificial Reefs (15/19)

New Jersey Artificial Reefs

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rock reef
A hopper barge full of rock

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.


rock ridge

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 similar rockpile is located in shallower water on the Axel Carlson Reef.



Ronde Joyce II reef
Type:
artificial reef, tugboat
Built:
1941, ? Pascagoula MS USA ?
Specs:
( 62 x 17 ft )
Sponsor:
Coffey, Graybowski, Clark's Landing Marina, Mercury Marine
Sunk:
Thursday August 5, 1993 - Sea Girt Artificial Reef
GPS:
40°06.486' -73°57.224'
Depth:
65 ft

Rothenbach I reef
Type:
artificial reef, barge, fuel oil, US Navy
Built:
1944, DeKom SB, Brooklyn NY USA
Specs:
( 165 x 35 ft ) 220 tons (empty) 1270 displacement tons (full)
Sponsor:
Rothenbach & Cape May County Party & Charter Boat Association
Sunk:
Wednesday June 11, 1997 - Cape May Artificial Reef
GPS:
38°53.368' -74°39.800'


Salt Barge reef
Type:
artificial reef, barge
Built:
circa 1940
Specs:
( 150 x38 ft )
Sponsor:
US Navy, NJCDC, Carbon Services Corp, Artificial Reef Association, Cape May County Party & Charter Boat Association
Sunk:
Friday April 9, 1993 - Cape May Artificial Reef
GPS:
38°50.959' -74°42.385'

Sam Berman reef
Type:
artificial reef, tanker
Built:
1947, Ira S. Bushey & Sons, Brooklyn NY USA as Philip Lemler
Specs:
( 160 x 30 ft ) 478 tons
Sponsor:
Crystal Oil Corporation, Marine Trades Assn. of NJ, Fisherman Magazine
Sunk:
Thursday September 10, 1987 - Sea Girt Artificial Reef
GPS:
40°06.440' -73°41.180'
Depth:
125 ft



New Jersey Artificial Reefs

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Sparrow
Red-Eyed Vireo

It is not at all uncommon for small songbirds to be blown out to sea in a strong west wind ( or a north wind, for Long Island. ) Unable to make their way back to land, these tiny fliers eventually tire and drop into the water, or get picked off by seagulls. In desperation, they will alight on anything solid to rest. An anchored dive boat makes an easy target and may collect several hitchhikers over the course of a day. This little guy was so exhausted that he even perched on a finger for photographs. Generally, though, you should just leave them alone and not frighten them further, and they will fly away on their own once the boat gets back to land.