The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has granted the Okaloosa Board of County Commissioners permits for four artificial reef deployment areas in state waters west of Destin Pass. Construction begins this summer.
Each deployment area is 40 acres and located 2 to 3 miles offshore, and will eventually contain nine individual reefs.
The Air Force Research Laboratory at Eglin Air Force Base, Mid-Bay Bridge Authority and the City of Fort Walton Beach donated materials for the reefs' construction.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Natural Resource Damage Assessment Program and the Tourist Development Department funded construction.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Okaloosa County granted permits for artificial reefs