🌱 The Comeback Coastline - Why Mangroves Matter🌱

Why Mangroves Matter and How You Can Help from Home

For generations, South Florida’s coastlines were a maze of mangrove forests—natural guardians that buffered storms, filtered water, and nurtured marine life. But as cities expanded and waterfront development surged, many of these tangled roots were replaced with sea walls, concrete, and dredged canals. In trying to “tame” the shoreline, we unknowingly made it more vulnerable.

Now, with rising seas and stronger hurricanes, we’re learning a hard truth: nature knew best.

Red Mangrove Roots

🌀 Hardened Shorelines, Softer Defenses

In the mid-1900s, Florida's development boom led to widespread mangrove removal. These rich ecosystems were often viewed as obstacles to progress—swampy, mosquito-ridden areas to be cleared for clean lines and boat access. We replaced living shorelines with hardened ones, like seawalls and bulkheads.

But here's the problem: hardened coastlines don’t absorb wave energy—they reflect it. That leads to more erosion, flooding, and long-term damage during storms. In contrast, mangroves act like shock absorbers. Their complex root systems slow waves, trap sediment, and protect upland areas.

Clearing Lincoln Road Beaches (1917-18)

🌊 Restoring What Was Lost

The SeaHive Project & Wahoo Bay

Enter SeaHive, a cutting-edge project by the University of Miami that combines ecological engineering with art and science. It’s a modular, coral-like structure designed to work with living shorelines by reducing wave energy and promoting marine life growth—offering a futuristic solution inspired by ancient ecosystems.

Right here in Pompano Beach, Wahoo Bay is putting these ideas into action. Once a forgotten corner of waterfront, it’s now a “living laboratory” where students, scientists, and families come together to reimagine coastal resilience. Through partnerships with Shipwreck Park, marine biologists, and educators, Wahoo Bay is restoring habitat, testing new solutions like SeaHive, and proving that coastlines can be both protected and playful.

🌱 You Can Grow the Coastline from Your Kitchen Counter

Want to be part of the solution? You don’t need a boat or a lab coat—just a recycled bottle, some sunlight, and a little love for the ocean.

Grow Your Own Red Mangrove Sapling at Home:

Here’s how to start your own mangrove-growing project—perfect for homeschoolers, classrooms, or curious kids:

What You’ll Need:

• A clear plastic bottle

• Gravel or pebbles (lava rocks work too)

• A red mangrove propagule (looks like a greenish-brown spear)

• Water (brackish is best—mix of salt and fresh)

• Sunlight (a windowsill or outdoor spot)

Instructions:

1. Prepare the Bottle:

   • Cut the top off a clear bottle.

   • Add a layer of gravel to help hold the propagule upright.

2. Place the Propagule:

   • Submerge the pointed brown end in the water.

   • The leafy end should stay above water.

3. Care for It:

   • Place in bright light.

   • Change water regularly.

   • Add diluted liquid fertilizer occasionally.

   • Keep in a warm spot, away from cold drafts.

4. Watch It Grow!

   • Roots will develop underwater.

   • Eventually, you can transplant it to a larger pot or, with the help of local programs, into a natural environment.

Mangrove Sapling

🌎 Why It Matters

Mangroves don’t just protect coastlines—they protect people. They support fisheries, absorb carbon, and offer shelter to everything from baby fish to birds. In a time of climate uncertainty, restoring mangroves is one of the most hopeful—and accessible—actions we can take. Watch the video below to see why:

So whether you're exploring Wahoo Bay with us or growing a mangrove on your kitchen counter, know this: You're helping rebuild the resilient, living coastline South Florida needs.

Spotted this week at Wahoo Bay

Want to get involved? Join our next Wahoo Bay field day or become a home grower in our Mangrove Nursery Network! Email info@surfskatescience.com to get started.