Scripps Treasure Coast Newspapers - Murphy Visits Oyster Reef Project at Wildcat Cove

News Article

By Jerry Shaw

U.S. Rep. Patrick Murphy toured the Indian River Lagoon on Saturday, stopping at Wildcat Cove in Pepper Park Riverside where about 30 volunteers were involved in an oyster reef project to help improve water quality and the habitat for marine life.

Murphy traveled in a small whaler-style boat with St. Lucie County Commissioner Chris Dzadovsky and Brian Sharpe of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. Both Murphy and Dzadovsky helped volunteers with the project.

The District 18 congressman, who represents St. Lucie, Martin and parts of Palm Beach counties, said emphasizing the value of the Indian River Lagoon could help get any type of clean up or protection funding because of federal and state budget concerns.

"It (the budget) is tight in D.C.," he said. "People don't want to spend dollars."

The lagoon, however, can "bring a return on our investment," because it is essential to the ecosystem and can also help boost the economy through real estate, fishing and boating industries and other areas, he said.

The visit to Wildcat Cove was Murphy's first view of the oyster reef restoration project in action.

"Funding is so tight we have to look at alternative solutions and this is one of them," Murphy noted. "I'm here to see for myself."

Discharges from Lake Okeechobee that affect the Indian River Lagoon and Taylor Creek have been a controversial issue with local residents. Murphy said the Army Corps of Engineers, in charge of the discharges, "is in a very precarious position," dealing with years of toxic intrusion into the waterways.

Solutions will have to include work by the entire community, responsible water usage and innovative water farming methods.

"There is no silver bullet," he said. Any suggestions regarding funding or ideas should be considered, he said.

"All options are on the table," Murphy said. "We have to do everything we can. It's been a problem for many years."

Murphy voted in favor of the Energy and Water Development Appropriations Act, which includes funding for Corps projects, such as dredging of local inlets and repairs to Lake Okeechobee's Herbert Hoover Dike, which he said could play a role in relieving the problem of harmful lake discharges into the lagoon.

Murphy toured other areas of the lagoon following his stopover at Wildcat Cove, including Taylor Creek.

Volunteers worked to pass mesh bags filled with oyster shells from the cove's canoe launch to areas in the lagoon. The bagged shells act as artificial reefs, which build up with floating oyster larvae that attach to the shells. This creates a reef that naturally helps clean water in the lagoon and provide for an improved habitat for sea life.

The shells were collected earlier from local restaurants. Volunteers placed 563 bags Saturday.

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