Editing Fort Pierce, Florida (section)

===Environment===
====Shore Protection project====
According to the [[U.S. Army Corps of Engineers]], The Fort Pierce Beach Shore Protection project includes {{convert|1.3|mi}} of shore-line running from immediately south of the [[Fort Pierce Inlet]] southward to Surfside Park. The project is on a two-year renourishment cycle due to impacts to the beach from the federal navigation project at Fort Pierce Inlet. This two-year renourishment cycle is a much shorter renourishment interval than what is typical for other projects along the east coast of Florida.<ref name="auto">{{cite web|title=U.S. Army Corps of Engineers -- Congressional Fact Sheet -- Fort Pierce Beach FL, Shore Protection Project|url=https://www.saj.usace.army.mil/Portals/44/docs/CongressionalFS/2015/Fort_Pierce_Beach_F_Shore_Protection_%28C%29_CFS15.pdf}}</ref>

The initial construction of the project occurred in 1971, and the ninth nourishment was completed in May 2013. Completion of plans and specifications, advertisement and award for the 10th renourishment contract were completed in FY 2014. The project was scheduled to start mid-February 2015. [[Sand]] for the project is dredged from an approved offshore borrow area known as the Capron Shoal and then pumped via a pipeline onto the {{convert|1.3|mi}} of beach south of the Fort Pierce Inlet. The sponsor, [[St. Lucie County]], is preparing a General Reevaluation Report (GRR) for the project at their own expense that will evaluate extending Federal participation for an additional 50 years. Current Federal participation expires in 2020.<ref name="auto"/>

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers estimates the total cost of the project to be $75.9 million, with an estimated [[U.S. Federal Government]] share of $46.4 million. No funding for the project was requested by the [[U.S. President]] from the [[U.S. Congress]] in Fiscal Year 2016.<ref name="auto"/>

====Ecology====
The [[Experimental Oculina Research Reserve]] preserves the Oculina Banks, a reef of [[Ivory Bush Coral|ivory bush coral]] (''Oculina varicosa'') off the coast of Fort Pierce, Florida. In 1984, a 92 [[square nautical mile|square-nautical-mile]] (316&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>) portion of these reefs was designated the "Oculina Habitat Area of Particular Concern". In 1994, the area was closed to all manner of bottom fishing and was redesignated as a research reserve. In 2000, the [[Marine Protected Area|marine protected area]] was expanded to 300 square nautical miles (1,030&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>) and prohibited all gears that caused mechanical disruption to the habitat. The city is also known for its large manatee population.

====Marina====
{{unreferenced section|date=December 2024}}
[[File:Fort Pierce Marina.jpg|thumb|Fort Pierce Marina]]
Due to the devastation caused at the Fort Pierce City Marina by hurricanes [[Hurricane Frances|Frances]] and [[Hurricane Jeanne|Jeanne]] in 2004, FEMA mandated a plan to ensure that the rebuilt facility would be protected from future such events before FEMA would release funding for the repairs. Starting in 2012, construction began to create 12 artificial barrier islands including oyster beds, lime rock [[artificial reef]]s, mangrove fringes and coastal dune. The "core" of the islands was constructed of TITANTubes, sometimes referred to as [[geotextile tube]]s or geotubes, manufactured by Flint Industries and covered by a coastal marine mattress and then armor stone. The project was completed in 2013 after six years of planning, permitting and construction and a cost of $18 million.