St. Petersburg is set to launch a groundbreaking seagrass restoration project along its coastline this summer, a decade-long effort that the city believes may be the first of its kind in the United States. The initiative, centered off North Shore Park, has city officials buzzing with excitement.

“This is probably the first of its kind in the country. We’re really fired up about it for that reason alone,” said Managing Assistant City Attorney Michael Dema.

The project will convert 178 acres near the pier into a thriving seagrass bed, fostering a robust habitat for fish and manatees, enhancing water quality, and reinforcing the shoreline. Brejesh Prayman, director of engineering and capital improvements, explained its importance: “During major wave action or storm events, we lose beaches along our waterfront. Planting seagrass helps create a structure to prevent that land loss.”

Key steps include filling a 32-acre dredge hole with sand, silt, and dredge material sourced from Port Manatee, transported by barges starting this summer. “The public will see barges out there dumping soil,” Prayman noted. Seagrass planting will follow next summer.

Beyond ecological benefits, the project earns the city federal mitigation credits, which can be sold to developers. The proceeds will fund additional water quality enhancements. “We’re looking at infrastructure improvements upstream on land,” Dema added.

This pioneering effort, likened by Prayman to “building the plane and flying it at the same time,” has taken 10 years to develop. With completion targeted for 2027, the city will host several public meetings to keep residents informed as this transformative conservation project unfolds.

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