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Ala. Builds New Artificial Reefs in Gulf Waters Already the largest in the nation, if not the world, Alabama’s artificial reef zones recently got even larger with the addition of 110 sq. mi. of Gulf of Mexico bottom. As part of an overall $8.135 million expansion of the Alabama Artificial Reef Program, the Alabama Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (ADCNR) and its Marine Resources Division (MRD) recently received federal authorization for two additional permit areas from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Craig Newton, MRD’s artificial reef coordinator, said additional grants from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation’s Gulf Environmental Benefit Fund, established with criminal fines after the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill in 2010, will enable his crews to deploy artificial reefs in both nearshore and offshore reef zones. “We have expanded the 6- to 9-mi. reef zone,” Newton said. “Originally, we had about 30 square miles in that reef zone. We’re expanding by 23 square miles near Gulf Shores and Fort Morgan and another 24-square-mile area offshore of Orange Beach that is between eight and 15 miles offshore.” The largest of the new zones is 13 to 25 mi. south of Dauphin Island and adds 63 sq. mi. for the 110-sq.-mi. total of new water bottom for constructing artificial reefs. Getting the zones approved was a lengthy process to ensure historical resources and artifacts were not impacted by the new reefs. The cost associated with the permitting process was $742,000, according to MRD. “We had to do bottom surveys that were required by the National Historical Preservation Act to ensure that cultural see REEF page 6
DBI photo
The winter weather slowed the site work, but the contractor has been able to maintain his schedule through the warmer months.
For years, educators have dreamed of building a facility that would fully meet the needs of gifted students in Montgomery, Ala. That vision has finally been realized, as crews work to complete the new Booker T. Washington Magnet High School (BTW). “The existing structure had a fire, and one of the main buildings was a total loss,” said Chad Anderson, the executive director of operations of Montgomery public schools. “Their current location is an old elementary school that does not support a magnet arts program.” The current enrollment for BTW is approximately 450 students. “This is a magnet arts school that has programming such as dance, theatre, music that includes piano, strings, choral and band, visual arts, photography, law, television and radio and volleyball, basketball and soccer,” said Anderson. “There is a fully functioning television and radio studio, a black box theatre that seats approxi-
By Cindy Riley
CEG CORRESPONDENT
mately 125, a mock courtroom, a photography dark room, a 1,000seat gymnasium and an athletic field.” Work began in February 2021, with completion scheduled for June 2022. The approximately 120,000-sq.-ft. project will cost $26 million, including upgrading an existing structure at the former Holy Cross Episcopal School site, where the new school will be situated. “The location and the cost of acquiring the property and existing structure was a very economical and appropriate decision, that fully met the needs of the school,” said Anderson. “We used the existing architectural design and kept the same theme across the road front visual. As the need for more high-volume ceilings occurred in the programming, we were able to incorporate a more modern visual down the sides of the building.” Anderson said that designing the new school was a much easier process, because of time and effort already invested. see SCHOOL page 2