San Clemente’s Wheeler Reef is the largest artificial reef [Video]

SAN DIEGO COUNTY, Calif. — In San Clemente just off the pier is the Wheeler North Reef. 

It was built as mitigation for the environmental impacts caused by the San Onofre power plant. The reef is now over 300 acres in size and is a thriving habitat.

Dan Reed is a research biologist with the Marine Science Insitute at UC Santa Barbara. He explains what happened when an outfall from the cooling pipe San Onofre Nuclear Power Plant stirred up the sandy bottom.

“I think the reef is quite a success given that turbid plume caused a reduction in a substantial portion of that kelp forest,” said Reed of the conditions before the construction of the Wheeler Reef.

So, the California Coastal Commission amended the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station agreement and required Southern California Edison to …