Page 6 - The Islander- March '20

Page 6, The Islander DOUBLE SPACE

CommiSSionEr’S UpdatE

The Loxahatchee River: A Local Natural Resource

With National Significance

By Commissioner Hal Valeche

Palm Beach County This designation required the formation of the Conservation Commission (FWC) plans to restore
is working closely with Loxahatchee River Management Coordinating Council freshwater grasses, much of which disappeared following
the U.S. Army Corps to assist SFWMD and the Florida Department of Hurricane Irma. Manatees love the grasses and they will
of Engineers, the South Environmental Protection to develop a management help resolve turbidity issues in the river. FWC is also
Florida Water Management plan for the river. I have had the pleasure of serving on working with Friends of Jonathan Dickenson State Park
District (SFWMD), and the council as the County Commission’s representative to plant 100 new cypress trees per acre. This project
municipal partners on water during my two terms on the board. Its membership is started along the riverbanks in 2017 and is continuing
resources, water quality, comprised of elected officials, federal and state agencies, into the flood plain.
storage and restoration Palm Beach and Martin counties, water control districts, By restoring fresh water flows from tributaries to the
projects as part of the environmental and planning agencies, and river users north, this will push back the saltwater wedge, which
ongoing Comprehensive and landowners. Principal goals of the management pushes up the river during the dry season. Sea level rise
Everglades Restoration plan are to preserve and enhance the river’s unique also contributes to the problem.
Plan. This includes collaboration on the Loxahatchee natural values, restore the river’s historical hydrology, The Loxahatchee Slough is a large wetland just east
River Watershed Restoration Project. and reverse harmful saltwater intrusion on the river, of the Beeline Highway and south of Jupiter Farms that
From the Jupiter Inlet, the Northwest Fork of the affected by more than a century of ditching, draining helps recharge the river, but greater flows are needed.
Loxahatchee River traverses 14 miles up through and re-engineering along the river for agricultural and Historically, the river flowed from south to north,
Jonathan Dickenson State Park in Martin County. From urban development. receiving water from Grassy Waters Preserve Water
there, it winds south back down to Riverbend Park The county has led restoration efforts in the Catchment Area (West Palm Beach’s water supply)
in Jupiter. In 1983, that 10.3-mile section earned the Loxahatchee River watershed over the years by acquiring and the Loxahatchee Slough. When the C-18 canal was
designation as a National Wild and Scenic River. The nearly 28,000 acres of land and restoring wetlands for constructed, it cut off the river from the larger watershed.
National Wild and Scenic River System was created the benefit of the ecosystem. Our environmental and The SFWMD uses control structures to hold water for
by Congress in 1968 to preserve certain rivers with water resources staff are collaborating with SFWMD the dry season, but we need more water storage facilities
outstanding natural, cultural and recreational values in and the Army Corps and Coordinating Council to supplement flows to the river.
a free-flowing condition for the enjoyment of present members to promote cost-effective solutions that will U.S. Army Corps officials recently toured the
and future generations. provide significant benefits to the Loxahatchee River Loxahatchee River with county staff and officials from
watershed, increase flood control and water supply the Loxahatchee River District. Their observations
benefits on a wider scale, and additionally improve reinforced their understanding of the importance of
conditions in interconnected water resources such as protecting publicly owned natural lands within the
the Lake Worth Lagoon. watershed and restoring water flows to the river through
loCal Charity from page 5 On a recent tour I attended of the Northwest appropriate infrastructure improvements.
Fork of the Loxahatchee River with members of the As progress continues on the Loxahatchee River
Coordinating Council, we observed projects underway Watershed Project, the county will work with federal
to reduce saltwater intrusion that has killed so many and state agencies to improve design solutions that are
of the cypress trees along the river. The Moonshine supported by area stakeholders.
Creek oxbow restoration project was formulated by If you haven’t spent time on the Loxahatchee River,
the Coordinating Council and is under construction particularly the Northwest Fork, I hope you will make
through a partnership of the Jupiter Inlet District and the it a point to do so. You will thoroughly enjoy the
Loxahatchee River Preservation Initiative. The project abundance of plants, birds and wildlife species along
will keep water in the channel and push the saltwater this peaceful, magnificent natural resource.
out, eliminating a cut through at the oxbow where the As always, if I can be of assistance, please contact me
sand has been moving upstream. at (561) 355-2201, or by email at hvaleche@pbcgov.org.
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