Touching history: Saving Deadman’s Island

Deadman’s Island is in danger of washing away.

Erosion caused by bridge construction, dredging, and the building of sea walls has caused the sediment budget on the island to be out of balance.

The island is owned by the City of Gulf Breeze and serves as a public park of sorts. There are no businesses or homes on the island, but locals and tourists alike have enjoyed fishing, kayaking, sunbathing, etc. at the secluded spot for generations.

The City of Gulf Breeze, along with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection and concerned citizens from all over the state have teamed up to save the island and reverse the damage caused by these factors.

Heather Reed of Ecological Consulting Services is the project manager for the restoration project and said the danger of losing the island is very real.  Not enough sediment is reaching the island and it’s disappearing a little at a time. Reed said that without intervention the island will erode away, smothering marshes and destroying a plethora of wildlife habitats. 

For more on this story, see the July 7 issue of the Navarre Press or subscribe online.