This enhancement project is located near the southwest fork of the Loxahatchee River along a portion of a tidal tributary known as Sims Creek. The project involved the creations of estuarine wetlands, including tidal flushing to existing mangroves. Exotic vegetation was removed to enhance the mangrove areas adjacent to an 11 acre parcel of property owned by Jupiter Inlet District (JID). 1.2 acres of wetland were created from an upland area that was scraped down to intertidal elevations and then planted with salt tolerant vegetation. The newly created wetlands consisted of a mangrove and spartina (0.5 acres) along a tidal pond and channel (0.4 acres), and a transitional embankment (0.3 acres), planted with salt tolerant grass species (Spartina alterniflora) and green buttonwood (Conocarpus erectus) tress.
A tidal channel through an existing fringe of mangroves connects this wetland to Sims Creek. In addition, a 1 acre freshwater wetland was restored and planted with native trees and shrubs within the JID site. Over 6,000 mangrove seedlings were installed by volunteers including students from the Jupiter High School Environmental Academy and members of the Boy Scouts of America.
Total project coasts were $150,000 with a majority of the funds coming from a South Florida Water Management District Grant and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection's Pollution Recovery Trust Fund.
Coastal Resources
