North Fork, St. Lucie Aquatic Preserve

Project Spotlight

This year, the North Fork St. Lucie River Aquatic Preserve Management Plan is under review. The review process includes the development of an advisory committee (and associated meetings) and two public meetings to review the amended management plan.

"Nestled into the urban sprawl of Fort Pierce, Port St. Lucie and Stuart, is a quiet and scenic retreat perfect for viewing manatees, birds, turtles, and alligators from a canoe or kayak."

Laura Herren, Aquatic Preserve Manager

View of the North Fork, St. Lucie River

Key Accomplishments

Ongoing biological monitoring of fishes and invertebrates at hydrologic restoration sites (oxbow reconnection and berm breaches) along the upper reaches of the North Fork St. Lucie River will provide invaluable support for Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan studies.
Review of the Project Development and Environment Study for the proposed Third East-West River Crossing over the North Fork St. Lucie River in Port St. Lucie promotes the development of a project proposal that is sensitive toward the aquatic preserve.
Provide support to water quality improvement projects, including the ten-mile creek pilot reservoir and storm water treatment area project funded by South Florida Water Management District and US Army Corps of Engineers.

Fike net at an ox-bow reconnection site

Hydrologic Restoration

Significant portions of the North Fork St. Lucie River were dredged in the early 1900s to support navigation and provide effective flood relief. Spoil from the dredging project was deposited along the banks of the newly created channel. These deposits resulted in the isolation of wetlands and closure of oxbows which historically allowed the water to slowly meander south towards the St. Lucie Estuary. Initial hydrologic restoration efforts along the North Fork St. Lucie River included an oxbow reconnection and three berm breach sites. Fish and invertebrate sampling at the restoration sites indicate increased levels of dissolved oxygen and use by several commercially important species, such as snook, snapper, shrimp, and blue crabs, as well as rare tropical peripheral fishes. Research and monitoring are performed in partnership with Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

Quick Facts about North Fork, St. Lucie Aquatic Preserve

Map of North Fork, St. Lucie Aquatic Preserve

Location:

East-central Florida in St. Lucie and Martin counties

Acreage

The preserve is approximately 10 miles long and encompasses 5,000 acres of sovereign submerged lands

Contact:

Laura Herren
Aquatic Preserve Manager
3300 Lewis Street
Fort Pierce, FL 34981
772-429-2995

Oaks over the North Fork, St. Lucie River

Oaks along the North Fork provide shade for recreational fishermen and environmental artists.

Anhinga with chicks in the nest

These anhingas are a few of the individuals within a productive bird rookery supported by the North Fork.

Tourists on the River Lilly River Cruise

Learn about the natural treasures of the North Fork on the River Lilly River Cruise in Port St. Lucie.

Swamp lilies

Swamp lilies provide shelter for fish and protect shorelines from excess wave energy.

The North Fork St. Lucie River, designated as an aquatic preserve in 1972, is a freshwater system upstream and a brackish system near the St. Lucie Estuary.
The river supports a variety of federally and state-protected species such as American alligators, manatees, river otters, nesting wood storks, little blue herons, brown pelicans, snook, and opossum pipefishes.
Rare tropical peripheral fish species, such as gobies, sleepers, and pipefishes, are also found in the upper reaches of the North Fork and the two headwaters, five and ten mile creeks.
The river is especially important habitat for the juvenile phases of commercially important species such as blue crabs, snook, snapper, drum, and shrimp.
The North Fork St. Lucie River is part of Florida’s "Save our Rivers" program.

Last updated: June 20, 2008