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Palm Beach County Department of Environmental Resources Management Links |
Lake Worth Lagoon Initiative Partners |
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In the Spotlight
Dive into this brief video and discover the colorful underwater world of the Phil Foster Park Snorkel Trail. |
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A snorkeler explores
the Phil Foster Park
Snorkel Trail |
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 Save the Date: LagoonFest
Mark your calendars for 9 a.m. - 1 p.m., Saturday, November 14 for the second annual LagoonFest! If you want to discover the marvels of Lake Worth Lagoon, don't miss this celebration of Palm Beach County's largest estuary. The free, family-friendly festival will once again be held next to the West Palm Beach GreenMarket on South Flagler along the downtown waterfront. The event will feature hands-on exhibits, wildlife viewing, live music, water sports and other activities for all ages. Come early to pick up a copy of the free 2016 Lake Worth Lagoon Calendar, while supplies last. We hope to see you there!
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Nesting Terns Return
A preliminary sign of the restoration success of the Grassy Flats Restoration Project in the lagoon is already evident. Earlier this year, county staff and other experts observed American oystercatchers and least terns, both state-listed imperiled shorebird species, nesting on the project's newly-constructed islands. This appears to be the first observation in more than 20 years of least terns nesting on the ground in coastal areas of Palm Beach County. With nesting completed, more than 50 volunteers helped to add the finishing touch to the islands by planting thousands of wetland plants.
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Art Becomes Habitat
A barren seawall at Bryant Park in the city of Lake Worth has been transformed. The changes were inspired by art and have turned the park's boundary between land and water into a living shoreline where oysters and wetland plants will thrive. The Bryant Park Living Shoreline's innovative blend of art and habitat restoration was highlighted at the city's ribbon-cutting ceremony in July.
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Underwater Shark Sculptures
The latest additions to the Phil Foster Park Snorkel Trail are quite a sight to see! Visitors to the popular underwater attraction, which is also an artificial reef, can now explore three hammerhead shark sculptures. The sculptures, donated by artist Thomas McDonald, are each approximately 2 1/2 feet tall and 5 feet long and are located in about 10 feet of water at the western end of the trail.
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Protecting Peanut Island's Shoreline
Two new breakwater reefs are taking shape along the eastern shoreline of Peanut Island in Riviera Beach. The reefs will provide additional shoreline protection and create marine habitat. By creating new spaces for colorful fish to live and be seen, these reefs will enhance this popular snorking spot - which was recently highlighted by Yahoo! Travel as one of the 12 best snorkel spots in the U.S.
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Lake Worth Projects Progressing
If your travels take you along the Lake Avenue Bridge in the city of Lake Worth, you may have noticed some activity nearby in the lagoon. Clean dredge material from the Palm Harbor Marina is being beneficially reused at the Snook Islands Natural Area, northwest of the bridge. This placement of fill, which helps cap muck bottom sediments, should wrap up in the next few weeks. Just southeast of the bridge, the removal of exotic vegetation along the shoreline is underway as part of the Old Bridge Park Restoration Project. |
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Photo Credit:
Gregory Reynolds,
LagoonKeepers.org |
Keeping the Lagoon Clean
Thanks to many efforts, trash and debris are being removed from the lagoon. As part of the International Coastal Cleanup, coordinated locally by Keep Palm Beach County Beautiful, many volunteers cleaned the lagoon's shoreline on September 19 (and a few other dates). To also keep the county's estuarine waterways clean, the county expanded its marine debris removal contract with LagoonKeepers.org to include the removal of derelict and abandoned vessels. LagoonKeepers has removed five vessels so far through this contract. The contract extends another two years. |
Educating and Engaging Youth
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