It all starts with a mud bank.

The first part of the project will repair a mud bank which stretches southwest about a mile off the Intracoastal Waterway near Tavernier. Crushed limestone in biodegradable bags is dropped into the damaged areas, and allowed to settle for a couple weeks. Workers then come back to the areas and plant seagrass, which can take three years to completely re-grow.

Eventually, the project will hopefully restore three boat-damaged sites on Cross Bank with seagrass, said Everglades Chief Natural Resources Manager Dan Craig.

"Seagrass is habitat for a whole lot of things—young fish, lobsters and invertebrates that feed fish," Craig said, explaining the importance of grass beds in Florida Bay.

Although certain Keys areas have tried seagrass restoration, this is a first for Everglades National Park. Don’t expect it to be the last.

"I have a whole inventory of other areas that could be done, and we are negotiating with people who provide volunteers and funding," he said.

The work on Cross Key is being paid for by the parties who were responsible for the boat groundings—slightly under $100,000.