DEP Applauds Snook Islands Environmental Enhancement

More than 1.6 million state dollars were allocated through the Partnership to supplement Palm Beach County’s habitat enhancement project in the delicate estuarine system of Lake Worth Lagoon. New and improved eco-features include more than 2 acres of oyster reef, 11 acres of new mangrove wetlands, and nearly 3 acres of Spartina marsh for shoreline stabilization.

“Florida’s more than 4,000 square miles of estuaries provide unique natural habitats and protect coastal water quality,” said DEP Water Resource Management Director Mimi Drew. “State and local partnerships like the Snook Islands project restore and enhance these critical native ecosystems.”

The Lake Worth Lagoon Partnership Grant Program -- a state and county managed initiative -- has funded 32 restoration projects since its inception in 1998, including: enhanced treatment for stormwater runoff; sewage connections to replace aging septic systems; habitat restoration and creation; and public awareness efforts.

“Improvements to local ecosystems and marine nurseries provide an ecological boost with environmental benefits for local communities and their economies,” said DEP Southeast District Director Kevin Neal. “Florida’s ocean-based economy depends on projects like the Snook Islands, which refresh local resources and brighten the future for those that depend of them.”

The Partnership’s restoration and enhancement projects are outlined in the Lake Worth Lagoon Management Plan, devised to support a healthier lagoon through projects promoting water quality, biological diversity and heightened public awareness. Other local achievements include wetland creation and enhancement projects Peanut Island and John’s Island. For more information about the Partnership’s projects visit www.pbcgov.com/erm/enhancement.