Alabama Power and ADCNR Launch New Offshore Reef in Gulf of Mexico

GULF OF MEXICO, Alabama — Alabama Power Company has partnered with the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources’ Marine Resources Division (MRD) to create an artificial reef using end-of-life concrete poles and tower segments. The reef was deployed on September 19 and is located within the Christopher M. Blankenship Reef Zone, spanning 65 miles of the Gulf of Mexico, situated 10 to 20 miles off the Alabama coast.

Jason Carlee, manager of Alabama Power’s Water Field Services, explained that the deployment arrangement resembled the game Pick Up Sticks. “This is the fourth reef that Alabama Power has deployed. We stacked the poles in a crisscross pattern to create elevated surfaces instead of lying flat on the seabed,” Carlee said. “The poles will attract barnacles and marine life, helping the reef complex to flourish.”

Craig Newton, MRD’s artificial reef coordinator, described the success of the Blankenship Reef Zone, which was permitted in 2021 and named in honor of Commissioner Christopher M. Blankenship by Governor Kay Ivey. Since the permit’s issuance, MRD has deployed 123 reefs using 164 super pyramid reef structures prior to this latest addition.

“We developed a mutually beneficial partnership with Alabama Power,” Newton said. “Their repurposing of concrete poles significantly increases habitat diversity for reef fish in the area. The unique surface of these poles offers more hiding spots for species like fish, crabs, and invertebrates.”

According to Newton, the new reef will serve as prime habitat for various fish species, including red snapper, gray triggerfish, and mangrove snapper. “The configuration allows for ample refuge, particularly for gray snapper, which tend to thrive in close-quarted habitats,” he added.

Commissioner Blankenship anticipates a long-term relationship with Alabama Power for future reef-building projects. “I appreciate the commitment to sustainability demonstrated by repurposing materials to create new habitats for marine organisms,” Blankenship said. “I look forward to many future projects.”

In addition to the concrete poles, MRD deployed a decommissioned tugboat, the William Lee, also within the Blankenship Reef Zone. The 45-foot-long vessel was donated by Hooks Towing of Chickasaw, Alabama, and was funded by Alabama Power for deployment. The tugboat was submerged 17 miles south of Dauphin Island, strategically positioned to become an artificial reef.

“The William Lee was meticulously cleaned to remove harmful compounds and has holes cut into the hull to allow fish to access its entirety,” said Newton. “At a depth of 105 feet, it will attract not only red snapper and triggerfish but also greater amberjack.”

Alabama Power’s initiatives date back to 2016 when it partnered with Cooper/T. Smith and the Alabama Wildlife Federation to deploy its first artificial reef, utilizing retired boilers at a zone southeast of Dauphin Island. Since then, the program has expanded significantly, establishing approximately 10,000 artificial reefs within the Alabama Artificial Reef Program, which covers 1,200 square miles.

“Alabama has created a world-class offshore reef fishery, and this is beneficial for both recreational and commercial fishing industries,” Carlee stated, underscoring the economic impact of such initiatives on tourism.

With the recent deployment of new reefs and the expansion of existing zones, Newton noted that access to reef fish populations has substantially increased. “Families can now catch good red snapper within a 6 to 7-mile trip,” he said. “The expansion of our artificial reefs has changed the dynamics of the fishery significantly.”