Clearing the Waters: Addressing Misrepresentations in "Clouds in My Coffee" by Precht et al. (2025) Regarding Dredging Sediment Plumes and Coral Reef Damage at PortMiami

In the decade since the completion of the PortMiami Deep Dredge Project (PMDP), numerous independent analyses have documented extensive and clear evidence of dredging-related sedimentation and associated degradation of adjacent coral reef habitats. In a 2025 study published in the Proceedings of the 24th World Dredging Congress & Exposition, Precht and co-authors attempt to counter these findings and perpetuate their claim that there was only minimal damage to natural resources caused by the PMDP. This review and response document is intended to highlight several misinterpretations, mischaracterizations, and unsupported conclusions presented in that article. In doing so, we reiterate the value of (1) satellites in detecting and quantifying sediment plumes and (2) robust in situ monitoring using effective sediment collection methods, followed by (3) rigorous scientific analyses of these data with the goal of unbiased investigation of dredging-related impacts.