ECOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS

o Loxahatchee River has Wild and Scenic designation, but a portion of its watershed known as the Loxahatchee Slough has been impacted.

o Extensive agricultural development includes citrus and small vegetables.

o Except for the coastal ridge, land use is generally characterized with a rural development pattern or agriculture.

o Wetlands within the Pal-Mar and C-18 Canal area are in excellent condition or restorable.

o Valuable estuarine areas threatened by continued development and excessive fresh water and polluted discharges.

o Contains important Wildlife Management areas and park lands under jurisdiction of the State.

o Vegetation is highly variable from xeric scrub to long hydroperiod wetlands.

o Groundwater levels have been lowered due to constructed water conveyance systems.

 

ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION OBJECTIVES

o Encourage ecologically compatible residential/commercial development maximizing wetland preservation.

o Develop comprehensive plan for terrestrial wildlife and their relation to wetlands through the establishment of wildlife corridors.

o Restore and/or maintain fishable and swimmable waters throughout the area.

o Establish water quality consistent with appropriate standards.

HYDROLOGICAL RESTORATION OBJECTIVES

o Restore natural hydrology (stages, timing, volumes) for wetland habitat, riverine systems and estuaries. Corridor flow patterns including Dupuis, Corbett, Pal-Mar, Loxahatchee Slough should be restored.

o Restore natural hydrology (stages, timing, volumes) for Loxahatchee Slough sufficient to maintain 50 cfs baseflow in Loxahatchie River.

o Preservation of wetland hydrology in urban development, including the West Palm Beach catchment area, to accomplish multiple use (i.e., urban water supply and ecological) objectives.

o Seventy-five percent reduction (minimum) or elimination (maximum) of C-51 discharges to Lake Worth.

CRITICAL LINKAGES

o Some hydrological link to Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge and Lake Okeechobee

o Strong hydrologic link to estuaries, water catchment areas, the City of West Palm Beach, and the Loxahatchee River headwaters.

 

SUCCESS CRITERIA

o Pocket wetlands become significant detention, storage and treatment areas within the subregion.

o Waters throughout the area become fishable and swimmable.

o Reduction of 90 % of the muck from benthic areas of Indian River Lagoon and similar areas and reestablish seagrass in estuarine waters less than 2 meters in depth.

o Increased presence of manatees in areas of seagrass return.

o Prevent loss of cypress in the downstream areas of the Loxahatchee River floodplain.