Today, Florida’s coral reefs are under tremendous pressure for survival. Urban development, poor water quality, and trash and debris all cause degradation to coral reefs. Healthy coral reefs are critical for Earth’s sustainability and to provide a safe environment for aquatic life. They also protect our treasured sandy beaches. Found in the Florida coral reefs that stretch more than 350 miles, are recently discovered unique chemicals that will dramatically advance biomedical research. We have only scratched the surface to what can be discovered.
Studies have found that coral reefs downstream of land disturbances or industrial facilities can often be degraded and become threatened. We all recognize the dramatic growth taking place today in Florida. The inability for stormwater to infiltrate the ground due to the abundance of manmade impervious landscapes can ultimately contribute to water contamination into our waterways and eventually end up at our beaches, ocean, and coral reefs.
Studies have shown that coral reefs roughly occupy approximately 1% of the world’s marine environment, but they provide a home to a one fourth of all marine species. This includes many unique and endangered marine animals. We could lose many of these species permanently if we do not place a higher emphasis on protecting our reefs.
The most common pollutants coming from stormwater sources include sediment, pathogens, nutrients, and metals. Next week, June first is considered World Reef day. We will continue this conversation about the importance of how our delicate coral reefs play an instrumental part in a healthy ecosystem. KCI works hard to support and help maintain our natural habitat and provide practical and sustainable solutions for erosion issues, from the small scale and large-scale coastline efforts. Call us today, 888-346-7779.
