THIS IS SOUTHWEST FLORIDA IN FOCUS.

COMING UP FOLLOWING A SLOW START TO THE ATLANTIC HURRICANE SEASON.

THINGS ARE STARTING TO PICK UP.

WE'RE KEEPING AN EYE ON THE WEATHER TO SEE OF RECENT STORM SYSTEMS ARE A SIGN OF THINGS TO COME.

BUILDING AN ENVIRONMENT FOR THE NEXT GENERATION OF SKILLED WORKERS.

MEET THE INAUGURAL STUDENTS OF THE HEIGHTS.

CAREER TECH INSTITUTE AS THEY BEGIN THEIR PROFESSIONAL CALLING AND THE PATHWAY TOWARDS COASTAL RESTORATION.

THE UNDERWATER CORRIDOR THAT LOOKS TO PROVIDE SANCTUARY FOR AQUATIC WILDLIFE AND HELP RESTORE FLORIDA'S ECOSYSTEMS.

HELLO, I'M JENNIFER CRAWFORD.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

AFTER A QUIET START TO THE 2026 ATLANTIC HURRICANE SEASON.

TROPICAL STORM EDOUARD MADE LANDFALL NEAR THE TEXAS LOUISIANA BORDER ON TUESDAY NIGHT.

IT HAS SINCE BEEN DOWNGRADED.

BUT FLORIDA IS NOT OUT OF THE WEEDS JUST YET.

THE REMNANTS OF WHAT WAS TROPICAL STORM DOLLY HAVE SLOWLY MADE THEIR WAY ACROSS THE ATLANTIC AND ARE EXPECTED TO BRING MORE RAIN THROUGHOUT THE AREA.

SO IS THIS FINALLY THE START OF THE RAINY SEASON?

FOR WEATHER UPDATE?

WE'RE JOINED BY MEGAN BOROSKI SENIOR METEOROLOGIST WITH F TREND.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US TODAY.

ABSOLUTELY.

IT'S A PLEASURE TO BE HERE.

NOW WE'VE SEEN TROPICAL DEPRESSION ED WARD BRINGING LOTS OF RAIN TO TEXAS AND LOUISIANA ARE AS FLORIDA WILL SOON BE FEELING THE REMNANTS OF TROPICAL STORM DOLLY IS THIS SAW THE BEGINNING OF MORE STORM ACTIVITY IN THE ATLANTIC AND THE GULF.

>> I WOULDN'T NECESSARILY SAY, YOU KNOW, IT'S THE START OF MORE STORM ACTIVITY.

WE'RE ALREADY FEELING THE IMPACTS OF THE THE REMNANTS, THE REMNANT ENERGY FROM DOLLY.

AND THAT HAS REALLY TRIGGERED ADDITIONAL THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY ACROSS THE STATE OF FLORIDA.

WE'LL BE WATCHING.

THE TROPICS, OF COURSE, AS WE GET INTO THE COMING WEEKS.

BUT FOR NOW, REALLY ONCE AT WAR DISSIPATES BE HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF A LULL IN IN THE TROPICS.

IN TERMS OF THAT IN TERMS OF STORM DEVELOPMENT.

>> AND THAT'S GOOD NEWS FOR SURE FOR US.

THIS TIME OF YEAR.

THIS IS NORMALLY THE TIME OF YEAR WHEN FLORIDIANS ARE ON HIGH HURRICANE ALERT.

BUT ARE THERE ANY PATTERNS OF SYSTEMS THAT YOU ARE CURRENTLY KEEPING AN EYE ON >> SO, YEAH, I MEAN, AS YOU MENTIONED, WE ARE ENTERING THE PEAK OF HURRICANE SEASON.

WE ONLY JUST STARTED SEPTEMBER.

WE HAVE 3 FULL MONTHS LEFT AND OF COURSE, THE CLIMATOLOGICAL PEAK OF HURRICANE SEASON IN THE ATLANTIC BASIN IS AROUND SEPTEMBER 10, SEPTEMBER.

11TH, GIVE OR TAKE A FEW DAYS NOW.

EL NINO IS VERY STRONG.

THAT HAS BEEN LIKE THE BIG TOPIC SO FAR THIS SEASON.

AND THAT HAS HELPED TO PUT A LID ON TROPICAL DEVELOPMENT.

WE DO HAVE A PLUME OF SAHARAN DUST OFF THE COAST OF AFRICA RIGHT NOW.

IT'S OVER THE NEXT 7 DAYS OR SO.

I DON'T EXPECT ANY DEVELOPMENT, BUT ONCE WE START LOOKING AT THE MIDTERM, WE COULD HAVE A FEW WAVES OBJECT OFF THE AFRICAN COAST AND WE'LL BE WATCHING THE MAIN DEVELOPMENT REGION IN THE ATLANTIC FOR POTENTIAL DEVELOPMENT.

WAY TOO SOON TO TELL IF THAT LABEL EVEN DEVELOP INTO ANYTHING.

BUT I SAY ALL THIS TO SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, WE ARE APPROACHING THE PEAK OF SEASON AND OF COURSE, WE'RE GOING TO BE MONITORING THINGS THROUGH NOVEMBER, 30TH AND BEYOND.

>> CAN YOU TELL US HOW AL NINO IS IMPACTING OUR FORECAST?

>> SO ELLIE NEW IS A TELE CONNECTION IN THE PACIFIC, BUT IT ACTUALLY TRANSLATES OVER INTO THE ATLANTIC.

AND WHAT IT DOES IS IT INCREASES VERTICAL WIND SHEAR.

SO THE CHANGE IN SPEED WITH HEIGHT IN THE ATMOSPHERE AND WIND SHEAR IS NOT GOOD.

IF YOU WANT TO A HURRICANE TO DEVELOP, YOU NEED LOW WIND SHEAR.

SO THIS ELEVATED WIND SHEAR HELP TO SCRAMBLE OUR THUNDERSTORMS.

IT HELPS TO PREVENT IT.

TROPICAL SYSTEMS FROM ORGANIZING.

SO THAT'S BEEN THE MAIN FACTOR THAT ONLY KNOW HAS BEEN PRODUCING IN THE ATLANTIC.

IT'S HELPED TO PREVENT THOSE STORMS FROM ORGANIZING.

I WILL NOTE THAT THAT ELEVATED WIND SHEAR IS REALLY BEING SEEN IN THE LOWER LATITUDES OF THE TROPICAL ATLANTIC, INCLUDING THE CARIBBEAN.

BUT OVER THE GULF.

AND OUR WIND SHEAR ISN'T BEING IMPACTED TOO MUCH.

THAT'S ACTUALLY WHY WE SAW IT WERE DEVELOPED VERY QUICKLY BECAUSE WE HAD LOW WIND SHEAR IN THE GULF AND IT CAN QUICKLY SPIN UP AND IN THANKFULLY IT'S MAKING LANDFALL AND IT'S NOT INTENSIFY ANY FURTHER.

>> WILL ANY OF THE RAIN THAT WE'VE BEEN RECEIVING, ESPECIALLY IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA, BE ENOUGH TO HELP COMBAT THE DROUGHT THAT MOST OF FLORIDA HAS FOUND ITSELF IN.

>> YEAH, WE'RE STILL STUCK IN DROUGHT CONDITIONS ACROSS MUCH OF THE STATE.

THERE'S PARTS OF THE PANHANDLE THAT HAVE FINALLY COME OUT OF IT.

BUT SIR, IT HAS BEEN QUITE THE DRY SUMMER, ACTUALLY FOR FOR A LOT OF US EVER RUNNING ANYWHERE BETWEEN 5 AND 15 INCHES BELOW WHERE WE SHOULD BE FOR THE SUMMERTIME SEASON.

NOW, CORE SUMMERTIME FOR METEOROLOGST METEOROLOGICAL RECORDS CONCLUDED ON THE THE NIGHTTIME OF OF AUGUST 30TH 31030TH.

WE ARE NOW IN METEOROLOGICAL AUTUMN BUT WERE RUNNING ANYWHERE FROM 5 TO 15 INCHES BELOW WHERE WE SHOULD BE FOR THE SUMMERTIME SEASON IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA OVER THE NEXT 7 DAYS OR SO.

WE COULD SEE POCKETS OF SEVERAL INCHES OF RAINFALL FROM THUNDERSTORMS THAT ARE BEING TRIGGERED BY THIS REMNANT ENERGY FROM DOLLY.

BUT IT'S GOING TO TAKE A LOT MANY STORMS.

MANY DAYS OF THUNDER STORMS TO REALLY HELPED TO PUT IT AND SUBSTANTIAL DENT IN THOSE RAINFALL DEFICITS.

GOOD NEWS IS EVEN THOUGH THE STORMS ARE QUITE ANNOYING, TYPICALLY ONLY KNOW WINTER'S ARE QUITE RAINY FOR THE STATE OF FLORIDA.

SO EVEN IF WE DON'T GET WHAT WE NEED DURING THE REMAINDER OF RAINY SEASON, WE'LL LIKELY SEE A GOOD AMOUNT OF RAINFALL OVER THE WINTER TIME MONTHS.

>> AND NOW THAT WE ARE INTO SEPTEMBER, HOW HAS THE HURRICANE OUTLOOK CHANGED AND WHAT WE CALL OUR PEAK SEASON COMPARED TO WHAT WE WERE LOOKING AT EARLIER THIS YEAR.

>> SO THE FORECAST EVEN EARLY ON THIS YEAR ARE CALLING FOR A BELOW AVERAGE SEASON.

I THINK IT WITH FIRST IT STARTED OUT NEAR AVERAGE IN THEM OR WERE SUBSTANTIALLY IN AND BELOW AVERAGE FORECAST.

SO WE'RE RIGHT ON TRACK.

I BELIEVE THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER ON THE LOW END OF THE RANGE HAS 7 STORM, 7 NAMED STORMS AND THEIR FORECAST.

WE'VE ALREADY HAD 4 OF THEM.

SO, YOU KNOW, OVER THE NEXT 3 MONTHS, ALL WE NEED IS IS 3 NAMED STORMS TO MEET THAT LOW RANGE FORECAST FROM THE NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER.

WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS ON THE NEW IS VERY STRONG.

BUT AGAIN, WE'VE GOT THOSE PEAK MONTHS OF HURRICANE SEASON COMING UP, INCLUDING SEPTEMBER.

SO WE'VE GOT TO KEEP AN EYE ON THAT.

SOMETHING ELSE THAT THAT I WANT TO URGE FLORIDIANS IS KEEP IN MIND JUST OVER THE PAST SEVERAL YEARS ARE MOST IMPACTFUL STORMS.

HELENE AND MILTON NICOLE ALL HAPPENED DURING SEPTEMBER OR LATER.

SO THIS IS NOT THE TIME TO BE LIKE, WELL, IT'S BEEN KIND OF QUIET SO FAR SO WE CAN KIND OF LET OUR GUARD DOWN.

THAT'S NOT THE SITUATION.

WE'VE GOT TO STAY VIGILANT THROUGH THE END OF HURRICANE SEASON.

AND THEN, YOU KNOW, BEYOND IN INTO THE WINTER TIME MONTHS FOR POTENTIAL UNSETTLED WEATHER DURING THE WINTER.

>> GREAT REMINDERS.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

MEGAN BOROSKI, SENIOR METEOROLOGIST WITH F PRINT.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

SALUTE.

>> FOR MORE WEATHER RELATED FEATURES BE SURE TO VISIT OUR WEB PAGE WGCU DOT ORG.

>> COMING UP, GOING TO SCHOOL CAN BE A STRUGGLE FOR ANY STUDENT WITH A SERIOUS HEALTH CONDITION, BUT WILL TAKE YOU TO ONE LEE COUNTY SCHOOL BEING RECOGNIZED TRADE SCHOOL ENROLLMENT ACROSS THE STATE HAS BEEN ON THE RISE IN RECENT YEARS AND FOR SOUTHWEST FLORIDIANS LOOKING TO START A NEW CAREER PATH, THERE'S A NEW OPTION.

IT'S THE HEIGHTS CAREER TECH INSTITUTE IN LEE COUNTY.

AND IT'S AN EXAMPLE OF A COMMUNITY GROUP SEEING A NEED AND RESPONDING WGCUS MIKE WALCHER HAS THE STORY.

>> 21 YEAR-OLD CLARENCE JOSEPH OF CAPE CORAL IS AMONG A DOZEN STUDENTS TRAINING FOR A YEAR TO BE SURE TO 5 ELECTRICIANS.

>> I REALLY THINK THIS IS THE COOLEST LIKE YOU'RE LEARNING WIRING.

YOU'RE LEARNING HOW TO LIKE MAKE THINGS COME TO LIFE.

>> JOSEPH LOVES MUSIC AND SAYS WE NEED STEADY INCOME TO DEVELOP HIS TALENTS TO ALI AND TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS MEETING REALLY IN THE KISSING HIM AND THAT HE'S ALREADY GETTING FOLLOWERS ONLINE FOR HIS CREATIONS AND HE HOPES A DAY JOB AND ALLOWED HIM TO DO MORE WITH HIS MUSIC.

>> I HOPE TO BE FINANCIALLY STABLE, FINANCIALLY INDEPENDENT.

THAT'S THE MOST IMPORTANT TO ME.

>> RECENTLY COMMUNITY MEMBERS CAME TO SEE THE INSTITUTE FOR AND A HALF YEARS AFTER HEIGHTS FOUNDATION LEADERS CAME UP WITH THE IDEA.

>> IT WAS HARD WORK.

>> IT WAS FUNDING AND PERSEVERANCE.

>> NOT GIVING UP.

>> THAT'S KATHERINE KELLY, FOUNDER OF THE HEIGHTS FOUNDATION AND CENTER.

SHE AND OTHERS RAISED MONEY TO BUILD THIS OF 50 MILLION DOLLAR 63,000 SQUARE FOOT BUILDING.

PEOPLE CHEERED.

THE OFFICIAL OPENING.

THE INSTITUTE IS NEAR HARLEM HEIGHTS.

A HISTORICALLY DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITY FOR A QUARTER CENTURY.

THE HEIGHTS FOUNDATION HAS WORKED TO HELP PEOPLE BREAK OUT OF POVERTY AND THE IN SITU FALLS RIGHT IN LINE WITH THAT GOAL.

>> THEY ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO DEVELOP THE SKILLS TO GET JOBS THAT WILL ALLOW THEM AND THEIR FAMILIES TO HAVE THE LIFE THAT THEY DRUGGED UP.

AND THAT'S A VERY POWERFUL THING TO BE ABLE TO SHARE WITH.

PEOPLE IS GIVING THEM THE OPPORTUNITY TO BETTER THEMSELVES.

>> STARTS.

THE INSTITUTE ALSO WILL TRAIN PEOPLE IN A VARIETY OF HEALTH CARE FIELDS.

CERTAINLY A GROWING INDUSTRY IN OUR AREA.

BUT AT THE HEART OF IT ALL IS THE FOCUS ON ONE PERSON IN NEED.

LEARNING ONE TRADE TO LAST A LIFETIME.

>> THE KOREA MATTERS CAUSE SOME, YOU KNOW, DON'T PAY YOU ENOUGH.

AND YOU HAVE TO LIVE LIKE >> PAYCHECK TO PAYCHECK.

THESE POLINA IS FRESH OUT OF HIGH SCHOOL AND THE ONLY WOMAN THE ELECTRICIANS CLASH.

>> I'M REALLY EXCITED.

AND I LOOK FORWARD TO GOING TO CLASS LEARNING NEW THINGS.

THERE'S ALWAYS SOMETHING NEW.

>> PROGRAMS WILL TRAIN PEOPLE IN WELDING AND AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR AMONG OTHER TRADES.

>> THE CYCLE OF POVERTY ALWAYS GOING TO BE HARD TO GET RID OF.

BUT WE'RE GETTING RID OF IT.

ONE FAMILY AT A TIME.

>> EMISSIONS RANGE FROM ABOUT 8200 FOR THE ELECTRICIANS PROGRAM DOWN TO ABOUT 1400 TO BECOME A NURSING ASSISTANT CAREER TECH SAYS MOST STUDENTS WILL GET GENEROUS SCHOLARSHIP HELP.

WITH VIDEOGRAPHY BY AMANDA.

WITH MORE ON MY CULTURE.

>> 3 LEE COUNTY SCHOOLS ARE RANKED AMONG THE HEALTHIEST IN AMERICA.

THAT'S ACCORDING TO ALLIANCE FOR A HEALTHIER GENERATION SUNSHINE ELEMENTARY HARNS MARSH ELEMENTARY AND HARNS MARSH MIDDLE SCHOOL ALL IN LEHIGH ARE EACH NAMED AMERICA'S HEALTHIEST SCHOOLS.

WGCUS DAYNA HARPSTER TAKES US TO THE ONE THAT RANKS THE HIGHEST IN LEE COUNTY FOR BEING A HEALTHY SCHOOL.

>> IMAGINE YOU'RE A MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENT WITH A CHRONIC HEALTH CONDITIONS.

A SCHOOL CAN BE STRESSFUL ENOUGH WITHOUT NAVIGATING AN ILLNESS, LIKE, SAY, DIABETES, HARNS MARSH, MIDDLE SCHOOL IN LEHIGH ACRES STANDS OUT BECAUSE IT SUPPORTS THE WHOLE STUDENT.

NOT JUST THE MIND SCHOOL NURSE SARAH RILEY LOVES THIS PERSONAL TOUCH.

I LOVED.

>> THAT ONE-ON-ONE CONNECTION WITH EACH STUDENT EVERY DAY.

REALLY GETTING TO KNOW THE KIDS REALLY BEING ABLE TO HELP THEM WITH THEIR HEALTH NEEDS.

>> HER DAYS ARE FULL.

>> VERY BUSY IN THE MORNING AS WE HAVE SEVERAL DIABETIC STUDENTS.

SO WE CHECKED THE DIET ON ANOTHER BLOOD SUGARS TO THE MORNING.

WE DO GIVE MEDICATIONS WE TREAT STUDENTS FOR, YOU KNOW, FALLS INJURIES THAT HAPPENED DURING THE DAY.

I DO A LOT OF TRAINING FOR THE TEACHERS AND THE STAFF WITH MEDICATION ADMINISTRATION DOING CERTAIN PROCEDURES THROUGHOUT THE DAY.

WE HAVE OUR EMERGENCY ACTION PLANS THAT WE DO FOR THE TEACHERS.

SO THEY KNOW ABOUT MEDICAL CONDITIONS FOR STUDENTS.

WE HAVE OUR AD DRILLS ARE CPR DRILLS THAT WE DO THROUGHOUT, YOU KNOW, THROUGHOUT THE YEAR TO MAKE SURE UP TO DATE ON EVERYTHING AND CAN COMPLIANCE FOR ALL THAT.

SO IT'S A VERY BUSY DAY FOR THE CLINIC.

>> BESIDES HEALTHY BODIES, HEALTHY BEHAVIORS ARE ALSO IMPORTANT.

IT'S ONE OF THE REASONS HARNS MARSH WAS HONORED BY THE NATIONAL CHILDREN'S HEALTH ORGANIZATION, THE ALLIANCE FOR A HEALTHIER GENERATION.

ANDRIA.

PENDER GRASS PERILLO IS THE 6TH GRADE SCHOOL COUNSELOR.

>> SO A BIG PART THAT MY TEAM PLAYED WAS CULTIVATING THAT ENVIRONMENT FOR STUDENTS NOT ONLY TO GROW AND ACADEMICS, BUT ALSO GROW IN THEIR EMOTIONS.

THEIR EMOTIONAL REGULATION SUPPORTING THE ENTIRE CHILD.

THE WHOLE CHILD.

>> EACH YEAR PENDERGRASS PERILLO ALONG WITH THE 7TH AND 8TH GRADE COUNSELORS.

WE'RE KIND OF CLOSING THE GAP PROJECT THEY IDENTIFY NEED FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR AND WORK TOWARD A SOLUTION.

EMANUEL OPEN SEE IS THE 7TH GRADE COUNSELOR.

HE EXPLAINS HOW THE COUNSELORS COME TOGETHER FOR A COHESIVE APPROACH.

WE TRY TO PROCESS TO SEE HOW CAN WE IMPROVE OUR SCHOOL?

HOW CAN WE IMPROVE OUR STUDENTS?

>> WHAT CAN WE DO?

SO WE COME TOGETHER.

WE BRAINSTORM TO SEE WHAT WOULD BE THE BEST.

>> SOLUTION.

EVERY YEAR'S DIFFERENT BECAUSE WE DON'T KNOW WHAT'S GOING TO BE THE ISSUE THAT WE NEED TO FOCUSING ON THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.

IF YOU NOTICE IS THE ATTENDANCE, IF WE NOTICE IS THE MENTAL HEALTH, THEN WHATEVER THAT WE COMING UP WITH, WE WANT TO MAKE SURE IT ADDRESS THE SITUATION.

>> HARNS MARSH COUNSELORS ALSO KNOW THE VALUE OF A GREAT ATTITUDE AND A SMILING GOOD MORNING.

IT SO MUNCY SPECIALTY.

OVER THE SUMMER THE COUNSELORS WERE THINKING ABOUT THE FUTURE.

THEY CAME UP WITH THE ZEN DEN CONCEPT TO SUPPORT TEACHERS AND STAFF.

IF THEY NEED A RESPITE, TEACHERS CAN VISIT ONE OF TWOS AND ENDS ONE IS FOR QUIET AND PASSIVE ACTIVITY LIKE AFFIRMATION CARDS, A MEDITATION CORNER AND SEE THE VIDEOS, FURNITURE AND LIGHTING ANOTHER IS FOR ACTIVE DECOMPRESSING WITH A MINIATURE BASKETBALL SET UP IN CANNES TABLE, PUNCHING BAG AND OTHER ACTIVITIES, ENSURING THAT STUDENTS HAVE HEALTHY DAYS NOW AND HEALTHY WAYS TO THE FUTURE AND HINES MARSH, THE HIGHEST AWARD IN THE LEE SCHOOL DISTRICT STAFF AND ADMINISTRATION ALREADY HAVE PLANS FOR GETTING THE SAME ACCOLADES NEXT YEAR WITH VIDEOGRAPHY BY AMANDA.

IT'S OR I'M DANA HARPSTER.

>> AND FOR MORE STORIES ON SCHOOLS AND THE EDUCATION SYSTEM IN FLORIDA, MAKE SURE TO CHECK OUT OUR WEB SITE AT WGCU DOT ORG IN 2021, THE FLORIDA WILDLIFE CORRIDOR ACT WAS PASSED PROTECTING 18 MILLION ACRES OF CONNECTED GREEN SPACES STRETCHING FROM THE EVERGLADES TO THE GEORGIA AND ALABAMA BORDERS.

THIS FUSION OF PROTECTED HABITATS AND UNPROTECTED AREAS LIKE RANCHES AND FARMS, ALL AIMS TO PROTECT CLEAN WATER AND PROVIDE CLIMATE RESILIENCE.

NOW THE SAME GROUP BEHIND THE WILDLIFE CORRIDOR IS LOOKING TO DO SOMETHING VERY SIMILAR OFFSHORE.

WCU SENIOR ENVIRONMENTAL REPORTER TOM BAYLISS JOINS US NOW WITH MORE ON THE COASTAL WILDLIFE CORRIDOR.

AND TOM, CAN YOU GIVE US AN IDEA OF HOW THIS IS DEVELOPING?

>> CERTAINLY, JENNIFER.

>> YOU KNOW, WE HAVE THE FLORIDA WILDLIFE CORRIDOR ON LAND.

>> BUT EVERYTHING IS HARDER AT SEA.

50 BARREN, CONCRETE REEF WERE PLACED ALONG THE SANDY BOTTOM 12 MILES OFFSHORE, NAPLES ON WEDNESDAY.

NOW IT'S A GHOST TOWN MOVING IN REVERSE WITHIN HOURS, DRIFTING OUT TO CLIMB ONTO THE CONCRETE AND FORM A SLIME LAYER AKIN TO A NEON SIGN BLINKING, SAYING OPEN FOR BUSINESS, CHAOTIC CONSTRUCTION BEGINS.

MILLIONS OF BARNACLES ATTACHED LIKE CEMENT, GREAT GREEN SEAWEED GROWS TOWARDS THE SUNLIGHT.

BAIT FISH ARRIVE AND HIDE A WEEK OR 2 IN JUVENILE GROUP OR MOVE IN STAKING CLAIM TO NEW HOMES AND THE REEF BARRACUDA THEN STALKED THE BAIT.

FISH AND GROUPER AND NOT 14 DAYS LATER, THE ARTIFICIAL REEF IS LIKE THE WILD FRONTIER DURING A GOLD RUSH.

BUT UNDER WATER.

>> FLORIDA'S GOT ONE OF THE MOST ROBUST REEF, OUR FISHERY PROGRAMS IN THE COUNTRY.

BUT WE'VE GOT ALSO THE LONGEST COASTLINE IN THE LOWER 48 AND WE HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO AND WE'RE SEEING DEGRADATION AND LOSS OF HABITAT.

SO IS LIGHT WHERE RENT.

WE'VE BEEN DOING A LOT OF GOOD WORK THAT WE HAVEN'T NEARLY BEEN ABLE TO TAKE IT TO THE LEVEL WE NEED TO TAKE IT.

SO THIS IS TAKING IT TOO A MUCH HIGHER LEVEL, BRING IN A LOT MORE FUNDING.

>> THE ARTIFICIAL REEF OFF COLLIER COUNTY IN SOUTHWEST FLORIDA IS THE FIRST OF MANY PLANNED FOR THE FLORIDA COASTAL CORRIDOR.

THAT'S AN UNDERWATER HIGHWAY OF SORTS BEING SPEARHEADED BY THE FISH AND WILDLIFE FOUNDATION OF FLORIDA.

A GROUP WITH 15 MILLION IN TAXPAYER DOLLARS TO SPEND ON ENHANCING COASTAL HABITAT BY REPAIRING ENSURE SEAGRASS MEADOWS AND MANGROVE FORESTS AND BUILDING NEARSHORE REEFS AND RESTORING OYSTER BEDS.

FLORIDA'S COAST IS UNDER GROWING PRESSURE AS DEVELOPMENT EATS AWAY AT SHORELINE HABITAT THAT ALSO SERVES AS FISH.

NURSERIES AS WELL AS WARMING, OCEANS AND HIGHER TIDES THAT PUT MORE STRESS ON WHAT REMAINS JUVENILE FISH, CRABS AND SHRIMP LIVE AND GROW AMONG THE SHORELINE PLANTS.

AND AT A CERTAIN SIZE, A LOT OF THE SPECIES MOVE OFFSHORE TO LIVE OUT THEIR ADULT LIVES WHERE THE ARTIFICIAL REEFS ARE IN TROUBLE.

SO THIS PROVIDES.

>> FOR THE PELAGIC SPECIES THAT ARE MOVING THROUGH THESE CORRIDORS.

IT DOES PROVIDE THAT AND ALSO PROVIDES THOSE SMALLER NEEDS HABITAT NEEDS FOR THOSE FISH LIKE RE FISH AND OTHER INSHORE SPECIES LIKES LOOK AND OTHERS THAT MEAN THAT HAVE US DON'T TRAVEL AS MUCH BUT STILL, THE APP SO CONNECTS THE COOL THING IS THAT CONNECTS ALL THESE DIFFERENT HABITAT NEEDS AND MAKES IT'S GOING TO BLEND IN AND HAVE A TENT WHERE THE GAPS ARE WHERE THE NEEDS ARE, WHERE THOSE FISHERIES, WHETHER IT'S A MARK TORRE FISHERY A PLEDGE IT OR SOMETHING OR OR IT'S A AN INSHORE FISH THAT GOES OUT LIKE A REDFISH THAT'S GOING TO GO OFFSHORE TO SPAWN.

CONNECT AND PROVIDES HABITAT FEEDING AREAS COVER THINGS LIKE THAT FOR THOSE SPECIES ACROSS ALL THEIR LIVESTOCK.

BUT WHAT WILEY SAYS WILL MAKE IT WORK.

ARE THOSE FOLKS AND THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT SCIENTISTS, CONSERVATIONISTS AND COASTAL RESIDENTS.

>> TOGETHER, HE SAYS, IS THE ONLY WAY A PROJECT OF THIS MAGNITUDE.

WE'LL WORK.

>> WE DON'T WANT ON THE COAST A QUARTER.

EVERYBODY OWNS THE CAUSE, THE CORNER LIKE THE WILDLIFE CORRIDOR BRINGS PEOPLE TOGETHER TO BIG TENTS.

IT'S A WAY TO TO SHINE A LIGHT AND HIGHLIGHT ALL THE GREAT WORK ALL THE PARTNERS ARE DOING.

BUT THERE'S A LOT OF BRIDGES THAT ARE WORKING REALLY HARD TO RESTORE SEAGRASS AND PROP SCARRING IN PLACES WHERE WE'VE HAD A GREAT NATION BECAUSE WATER QUALITY, WE THERE ARE A LOT OF PEOPLE WORKING TO RESTORE MANGROVES.

LOT OF GROUPS AND I COULD NAME THEM ALL IS REALLY EXCITING.

WE GOT ALL HANDS ON DECK AND WE'RE ALL.

SO IT'S GREAT THAT OUR ELECTED OFFICIALS FROM A LOCAL TO STATE LEVEL AND EVEN WE'RE GOING TO BRING IN FEDERAL FUNDS.

>> IS THERE ANY IDEA HOW LONG IT'S GOING TO TAKE TO COMPLETE?

ALL OF THESE ARTIFICIAL REEFS AROUND THIS STATE OF FLORIDA?

>> THERE'S NO SPECIFIC TIME FRAME AND THE STATE HAS YET TO COORDINATE WITH COUNTIES THAT PERHAPS THEY'RE NOT AS ADVANCED AS OTHERS.

WITH 3 STILL DING.

THEN THERE'S ALSO SHORELINE REBUILDING BEACH CLEANUPS AND MANGROVE RESTORATION AFTER HURRICANES.

>> TOM, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THIS STORY.

IT'S SUPER INTERESTING.

>> THANK YOU, JEN.

>> AFTER THE BREAK, WE'RE DIVING BACK INTO THE WATERS TO LEARN HOW RESEARCHERS WITH CORAL ARE A FOUNDATIONAL SPECIES THAT BILL DIDN'T SUSTAIN ENTIRE AQUATIC ECOSYSTEMS IN THE CARIBBEAN.

HOWEVER, ACCORDING TO NOAA SPECIES LIKE STAGHORN HAVE SEEN A 97% POPULATION DECLINE SINCE THE 1980'S.

NOW, RESEARCHERS WITH KIMBERLY'S RELIEF ARE DOING WHAT THEY CAN TO SAVE THESE VITAL CREATURES.

WGCUS PAM JAMES HAS THE LATEST DISPATCH FROM THE REEF.

>> IN 2023 IN 2024, A MARINE HEATWAVE DEVASTATED REEFS IN THE FLORIDA KEYS KILLING NEARLY 90% OF STAGHORN AND ELKHORN CORALS NAMED FURTHER.

AND WE'RE LIKE BRANCHES THESE CORALS ARE CRITICAL REEF BUILDERS BY 2025 SCIENTISTS DECLARED POPULATIONS IN THE LOWER FLORIDA KEYS, FUNCTIONALLY EXTINCT.

FUNCTIONAL EXTINCTION MEANS THAT NOW THERE ARE SO FEW ANIMALS IN THE AREA THAT THEY CAN NO LONGER FUNCTIONALLY DO WHAT THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO DO, WHICH FIRST IS TO CREATE MARINE HABITAT AND THE SECOND IT'S TO CREATE MORE BABY CORALS.

THE STEP AFTER FUNCTIONAL EXTINCTION IS GLOBAL EXTINCTION.

BUT THERE IS HOPE.

WHEN THE MARINE WAVE HIT SCIENTISTS LIKE DR, CINDY LEWIS ACTED QUICKLY.

>> THERE WAS A MASS EMERGENCY RESCUE OF AS MANY OF THE CALLS AS THEY POSSIBLY COULD BRING IN FROM THERE.

OFFSHORE NURSERIES THAT WERE IN THE OCEAN TO GET THEM OUT OF THE HOT WATER AND THEY BROUGHT THEM HERE.

DR.

LEWIS IS DIRECTOR OF THE FLORIDA KEYS MARINE LABORATORY ON LONG KEY.

HERE'S THE KEYS MARINE LABORATORY.

WE PROVIDE THE INFRASTRUCTURE FOR NOT ONLY EDUCATION AT THE COLLEGE LEVEL AND RESEARCH, BUT ALSO WE'VE BECOME THE HUB FOR CORAL RESTORATION HERE IN THE FLORIDA KEYS BECAUSE OF THE EXTENSIVE TEMPERATURE CONTROLLED SEA WATER SYSTEMS.

WE HAVE.

>> THE RESCUE WAS IMPORTANT FOR DR LEWIS BECAUSE SHE WATCHED HER FAVORITE CORAL DISAPPEAR FROM FLORIDA.

MY PASSION IS SPECIFICALLY.

>> THE PILLAR CARO TENDER GYRUS WONDROUS.

>> IT IS NOW VIRTUALLY EXTINCT ON FLORIDA'S REEF BECAUSE OF ALL OF THE IMPACTS OF WARMING SEAS AS WELL AS DISEASE.

SO WE HAVE ESSENTIALLY NO MORE A DONOR.

>> SCIENTISTS ARE WORKING TO MITIGATE THESE LOSSES BY RESTORING CORALS TO THEIR ORIGINAL HABITAT AND BY HELPING CORALS DEVELOP RESILIENCY THROUGH GENE BANKS.

>> WE CAN STILL FIND KOLR WORLD THAT HAVE BEEN GENETICALLY BANK IN THE LIVING GENETIC BANK STARTING IN FLORIDA AQUARIUM UP IN TAMPA.

BUT WE HAVE A FAR MORE THAN 500 CHUNKS OF PILLAR CORAL.

AND NOW THEY'RE DISTRIBUTED ACROSS MULTIPLE AGENCIES.

MULTIPLE LAND BASE NURSERY SO THEY CAN BE PROTECTED.

AND THEY'RE ACTUALLY SPAWNING IN CAPTIVITY.

AND THE PRODUCING BRAND-NEW BABY CORALS.

IT.

>> ANOTHER GENE BANK IS AT MOTE MARINE LABORATORY IN SARASOTA, SOME STAGHORN CORAL BABIES WERE PLANTED IN THE KEYS BY DR.

SARAH WILLIAMS WITH THEIR CORAL HEALTH AND DISEASE RESEARCH PROGRAM.

>> NO, IT HAS BEEN OUT PLANNING STAGHORN A STAGGERING CORALS IN PARTICULAR ON FLORIDA'S CORAL REEF SINCE 2008.

NOW THE LOSS.

ABOUT 95% OF OUR OUT PLANS IN THE LOWER FLORIDA KEYS TO THE BLEACHING EVENT.

BUT WE HAD SOME SURVIVORS HAD 5% SURVIVE.

IT.

SO THESE CORALS THAT SURVIVED ON THE REEF DURING THIS MAJOR HEAT EVENTS WE CAN LEARN FROM THEM TO FIGURE OUT WHY DID THEY DO THAT?

YOU KNOW WHAT MADE THEM SPECIAL?

WHAT MADE THEM STRONGER AND MORE RESISTANT TO THIS HEAT.

STRESS A COUPLE THINGS THAT WE'VE LEARNED SO FAR IS THAT IT'S THE CORALS PRODUCE THROUGH ASSISTANCE, REPRODUCTION.

>> THEN DR LEWIS SAYS.

>> TO LET NATURE TAKE OVER AND NOW YOU LET THEM SPAWN NATURALLY.

NOW YOU'RE CROSSING THEM.

AND THE HOPE IS THAT BY CROSSING THEM, LETTING THEM SETTLE THESE LITTLE TINY, ALL UPS THAT WILL THEN SETTLING CORAL VERY SLOWLY THAT PERHAPS THOSE BRAND NEW CORALS, THOSE ARE TRULY THE NEW CORAL RECRUITS.

>> DR LEWIS SAYS GROWING RESILIENT BABIES CAN ALSO COME FROM TAKING PIECES FROM SURVIVING CORALS.

>> AND THEY CAN CUT IT UP INTO SMALLER FRAGMENTS OR EVEN MICRO FRAGMENTS SAYS IT MIGHT FIGURE NOW THEY MIGHT TAKE 8 OR 10 OR 15 OF THESE THINGS.

PUT THEM IN AN AREA THE SIZE OF A DINNER PLATE.

AND IN 5 YEARS, 6 YEARS, THEY CAN GROW TOGETHER.

SO THEY'VE ESSENTIALLY FORMED A SINGLE CORAL HAD.

AND NOW THE SCORE WORLD THINKS IT'S THE SIZE OF A 50 YEAR.

75 YEAR-OLD CORAL AND THIS REPRODUCTIVE IT CAN SPAWN.

>> DR WILLIAMS HOPES THAT THESE EFFORTS WILL HELP CORALS BETTER HANDLE THE INCREASING HEAT AND STRESS.

>> PART OF OUR JOB IS TRYING TO.

WE MAKE IT SO THAT WE DON'T HAVE A JOB TO DO ANY MORE.

THAT'S THAT'S THE DREAM.

YOU KNOW, ONCE WE HAVE A THRIVING FLORIDA'S CORAL REEFS, WE CAN HOPEFULLY ALL RETIREMENT.

JUST ASK DIFFERENT QUESTIONS.

>> WGCU PUBLIC MEDIA'S LATEST DOCUMENTARY KIMBERLY'S REFUND UNDERWATER LIVING LABORATORY CHRONICLES THE ORIGINS AND THE EFFORTS BEING MADE BY THIS REMARKABLE SUBMERGED TO RESEARCH FACILITY.

IT PREMIERES THURSDAY, OCTOBER FIRST AT 08:00PM ON WGCU COMING UP ON OUR NEXT PROGRAM MAKING A MURAL THAT CAN LAST A LIFETIME.

HOW GORDA IS GETTING AHEAD OF COMPROMISED INFRASTRUCTURE FOR THE SAKE OF ART PRESERVATION.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

WE'LL SEE YOU AGAIN NEXT TIME