Buoy team comes to the rescue for Ft. Zach safety

Ft. Zachary Taylor State Park lies a mere 200 yards from Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary headquarters, but because of COVID-dive restrictions, it had been three years since the sanctuary’s lower Keys buoy team serviced swim area boundary markers at the popular beach site. During the down time, two buoys were lost, and a critical corner of the swim area was being breached by watercraft at the busy southwest corner of Key West. That all changed when the buoy team dedicated late February to making up for lost time, replacing the missing buoys—including one that blinks at night—and servicing downlines for others. Ft. Zach is one of the most popular of Florida’s state parks, consistently ranking in the top ten for attendance and revenue. Upwards of 700,000 visit the park each year, and this work will make it a safer swim for those who enjoy its turquoise waters.