Bal Harbour "Beachsaver" reef planned to protect beach nourishment program.

BAL HARBOUR, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jan. 30, 1995--Plans for a 1,200 foot "Beachsaver" artificial reef to control beach erosion were announced by the Village of Bal Harbour and Breakwaters International Inc. of Flemington, N.J.

Breakwaters International, manufacturer of the Beachsaver reef, will begin the preliminary survey work and permitting process under a $54,000 design contract. Installation of the reef, a $750,000 project, is targeted for completion later this year. The work will be in conjunction with a beach nourishment program planned by the State of Florida. The state program will replenish approximately 12.5 miles of beaches from Miami Beach to Sunny Isles.

The reef is planned for the south end of Bal Harbour, beginning at the Sheraton Hotel. It is designed to protect the beach nourishment program along 1,500 feet of Bal Harbour's 4,500 feet of oceanfront beach. The reef project could be extended to a $2.2 million program, to protect the village's entire beach.

"The timing for the new Beachsaver reef couldn't be better," said Bal Harbour Mayor Estelle Spiegel. "We are running out of sites from which to obtain sand for replenishment projects. With the reef, we expect to extend the life of the new beach. That will alleviate the pressure and expense of constant replenishment projects."

Beachsaver reefs are designed to slow erosion by reducing wave impact and by limiting the loss of sand from storms. A patented "Backwash Flume" enhances control by directing offshore currents of sand-laden water above the reef. Incoming waves then recycle that sand back onto the beach. The reef is designed to reduce wave energy up to 30 percent and withstand conditions exceeding forces known to nature.

The Bal Harbour Beachsaver reef will be composed of approximately 120 interlocking modules, each 10 feet long and weighing 21 tons. The reef modules are made of a special composition of concrete. The modules are placed underwater by an offshore crane with the assistance of sea divers.

The Beachsaver reef for Bal Harbour is the same design as three reefs installed in New Jersey shore communities in conjunction with sand nourishment projects. Progress reports have been issued on the reefs, with positive results reported to date at all three sites by Stevens Institute of Technology, Hoboken, N.J. Results are being monitored by a team headed by Dr. Michael S. Bruno, director of the Institute's Davidson Laboratory.

The New Jersey reefs are at Avalon, installed in 1993, and Cape May Point and Belmar/Spring Lake, installed in 1994. The New Jersey coast is subject to "Nor'easters," storms which strike from the northeast and generally bring storm surge waves that cause flooding and beach erosion.

Breakwaters International has been developing and field testing reefs for 11 years. The firm currently holds four patents for its technology and has other patents pending.

CONTACT: Paul Finkel Associates, Livingston

Paul Finkel, 201/740-0090