PEP Reef Volunteers
Pictured (from left to right) Todd Rapp, Kit Maher, Ellis Baker.  White buoys mark the offshore reef, red buoys mark the onshore reef

Members of the Vero Beach Lifeguard Association volunteered their time to install new buoys supplied by the Indian River County Coastal Engineer to the prefabricated erosion prevention (PEP) reef at Humiston Park this week.

The reef, which stretches from Humiston Park north to The Village Spires was installed years ago to try to prevent beach erosion.  Although an admirable project, the reef poses a threat to beach patrons because much of the reef, similar to highway dividers, lies just below the breaking waves within the surf zone.
Vero Beach Lifeguard Association members Ellis Baker and Todd Rapp along with University of Michigan student Kit Maher installed five buoys to the reef before conditions became too rough to continue.

Members of the Vero Beach Lifeguard Association, a non profit organization, will continue to install buoys along the entire length of the reef as weather and ocean conditions permit.

PEP Reef Buoys
PEP Reef Buoys

For more information on how you can help VBLA with its mission email VeroBeachLA@yahoo.com