CPE assisted the city of Key West design and permit the 4,000 foot long Smathers Beach project. 36,000 cubic yards of sand were trucked from mid-state borrow sources and placed on the beach. Rocks and muck were removed from the swimming area to reduce hazards to bathers.
As part of the project, CPE's Environmental Department developed a multi-phased plan to mitigate for impacted seagrass beds. The mitigation plan involved restoration and enhancement of a wetlands area, previously a WWII Blimp Pad, located in the Salt Ponds of Key West. After receiver site preparation, the seagrasses were transplanted from Smathers Beach onto the Blimp Pad site. A comprehensive post-construction monitoring plan of the seagrass community at Smathers Beach and at the Blimp Pad/ adjacent Salt Pond has been developed to monitor the success of the seagrass mitigation.