What can you do with entire army tanks left over from the Vietnam War, NYC subway cars, and entire bridges? Strip ‘em, clean ‘em, and sink ‘em!
Headed by the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, New York City subway cars from the MTA system are being dumped in the Atlantic ocean as artificial reefs for fish habitats. The 19 ton cars, 1600 planned thus far, are meticulously cleaned. All material that could float is removed, any hydraulic fluid oil, grease, and contaminants are cleared, as well as anything that would obstruct the smooth flow of water. The majority of the sunken material is stainless steel and dumped 16 miles out and 80ft down, off Slaughter Beach Delaware, in hopes to stabilize or increase resident fish populations.
In South Carolina armored personnel carriers, and many thousands of tons of concrete from destroyed bridges, has been sunk to increase fish structure along the shores. Barges and sunken ships also provide a great habitat for fish and plant life that is being rapidly depleted world wide. These structures all are cleaned before being deployed to the briny depths and subsequently covered in plant and animal life within 6 months to a year.
Once submerged, the subway cars turn a barren stretch of ocean floor into a bountiful oasis, carpeted in sea grasses, walled thick with blue mussels and sponges, and teeming with black sea bass and tautog.