LWLI Banner with Logos  
Palm Beach County Department of Environmental Resources Management Links
Lake Worth Lagoon Initiative Partners

Palm Beach County

 

South Florida Water Management District

 

Florida Department of Environmental Protection

 

The Palm Beach County League of Cities

 

Florida Inland Navigation District

Get Involved!
Outreach Efforts
In the Spotlight
Keep up on the latest lagoon-related news and events.
  
Check out "Restored habitats offer boaters recreational opportunities," which was included in the 2015 Palm Beach International Boat Show insert in the Palm Beach Post.
Kayak angler

A kayak angler fishes near Bryant Park Wetlands in

Lake Worth Lagoon.

 
April 2015
Lake Worth Lagoon E-News
View from boatTour Showcases Restoration
Palm Beach County and the Lake Worth Lagoon Initiative hosted a boat tour of the lagoon in January. Nearly 100 attendees, including several county commissioners, members of the county's legislative delegation, local municipal officials, representatives from local organizations and citizens, participated in the two-and-a-half hour trip highlighting eight restoration sites in the central portion of the lagoon. Since 1998, legislative and matching funds have supported 49 habitat and stormwater projects in the lagoon.
Grassy Flats aerialGrassy Flats Nears Completion
The construction phase of the Grassy Flats Restoration Project, located adjacent to the lagoon's eastern shoreline in the town of Palm Beach, wrapped up in early March. The 13-acre project used clean sand to cap muck bottom sediments where seagrass couldn't grow and created two intertidal islands. A pair of American oystercatchers has already created a nest on one of the islands, a clear sign that the habitats taking shape at Grassy Flats are working as intended. Once nesting season passes, volunteers will help plant native vegetation on the islands.
LagoonFest logoRecognition for LagoonFest
The Lake Worth Lagoon Initiative and the inaugural LagoonFest were honored in December by the Florida Association of Environmental Professionals (FAEP) Treasure Coast Chapter. The 2014 LagoonFest, which was attended by nearly a thousand people, received the FAEP's Education/Communication Award. The free, family-friendly festival will be held again on Nov. 14, 2015 to raise awareness of the lagoon's environmental,recreation and economic importance.
American oystercatcher Restoration - It's for the Birds
Resource managers are confident the presence of at least three pairs of American oystercatchers nesting at environmental restoration sites in the central portion of the lagoon is a great indication that restoration efforts in the area are working. The shorebird species, considered a Species of Special Concern in Florida, has recently been spotted at Snook Islands Natural Area, Bryant Park Wetlands and Grassy Flats. At least one chick per year has been documented at Snook Islands since 2006. A pair of the shorebirds produced three chicks at Bryant Park Wetlands last year. The oyster reefs that the birds rely on for food also help improve water quality and are an important part of the aquatic food web.
Lake Worth Lagoon watershedCanals and Water Flow
Three freshwater canals (Earman River/Canal-17, West Palm Beach Canal/Canal-C-51, and the Boynton Canal/Canal-16) flow directly into Lake Worth Lagoon. Did you know that you can view the current discharge status of these canals online? Here are steps to access the information via the South Florida Water Management District's "Water Conditions - Regional Realtime Data" Web page: Select "West_Palm_Beach," then locate "S44" (Canal-17), "S155" (Canal-C-51) and "S41" (Canal-16) in the "JN/SITE" column to view the status of these structures and the flow in these canals.
Great American Cleanup flyerCleanup Benefits Lagoon
Sites along the shores and within the watershed of the lagoon will receive attention this spring from Great American Cleanup volunteers. The cleanup is coordinated locally by Keep Palm Beach County Beautiful and its official date this year is April 18 (additional events will occur in April and May). The Palm Beach County Department of Environmental Resources Management will collaborate with John D. MacArthur Beach State Park, LagoonKeepers and the village of North Palm Beach to host a cleanup in April on Munyon Island with Santaluces Community High School. Thank you to everyone who is doing their part to keep Lake Worth Lagoon clean! 
Dennis P. Koehler Preserve brookPreserve on Display
The Lake Worth Lagoon Initiative's Public Outreach Working Group visited the Dennis P. Koehler Preserve in the Westgate community as part of a recent meeting. The preserve is the site of stormwater improvements that were funded, in part, through the Lake Worth Lagoon Partnership Grant Program. Stormwater collected by the preserve's lake discharges to the C-51 Canal and eventually to Lake Worth Lagoon, so pretreatment helps the water quality downstream.
Palm Beach County Department of Environmental Resources Management | (561) 233-2400 | [email protected] | http://www.pbcgov.com/erm
2300 N. Jog Road
4th Floor
West Palm Beach, FL 33411