Souris is the spot for the Island's first artificial reef

The province is building something never tried before on P.E.I.

Crews have begun stockpiling 150 trucks loads of Island stone at the beach in Souriswhich will soon bebe installed about 45 metres off-shoreto create P.E.I.'s first artificial reef.

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Two reefs will be constructed, each at about 30 metres long and 10 metres wide, running parallel to the shore.

Provincial officials say this couldbe the first of more off-shore reefs to comein an on-going effortto respond to climate change.

The plan, according to the province, is for the reef to create still waters along the shoreand protect the dunes as well as the highway that runs along theSouriscauseway.

Brian Thompson, the director of environmental management for thedepartment oftransportation, infrastructureand energy says the reefs will "nourish and stabilize the dunes."

According to him, government will use aerial dronesto monitor the success of the project.

Crews will being doing some of this work during the night next week, when tides are low, and it should be complete by the end of February.

The construction of the reefs is pegged at $100,000.

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