Ibis Isle Restoration

About the Program

Category: County Resiliency (Best in Category)

Year: 2010

Ibis Isle is a residential island located within the Lake Worth Lagoon, one of four water bodies in South Florida having priority restoration needs. Over time, fine-grained silt sediments (muck) from stormwater discharges of the nearby C-51 Drainage Canal have accumulated on top of the historic shelly sands adjacent to Ibis Isle creating an unnatural, unproductive flat. Muck sediments are prone to re-suspension through wave action, reducing light penetration and inhibiting the growth of submerged vegetation. The resulting shift of the invertebrate community has led to a decline in commercial and recreational fish species and subsequent reduction in species diversity. The objectives of the project were to restore eight acres of intertidal habitat by placing a sand “cap” over the muck sediments and stabilizing it with native vegetation and limerock. Increasing the abundance of salt marsh vegetation, mangroves, and oysters at the site greatly benefits local fish and wildlife and provides long-term water quality benefits to the Lagoon. Although the project was only recently completed, wading and shorebirds utilize the site and signs of natural recruitment of mangroves and oysters are evident.