John’s Island Oyster Reef Habitat Enhancement Project

About the Program

Category: County Resiliency (Best in Category)

Year: 2014

The Johns Island Oyster Reef Enhancement Project was constructed in the Lake Worth Lagoon (LWL) in order to offset the loss of intertidal habitat as a result of development in Palm Beach County. Intertidal habitats are some of the most productive fish and wildlife feeding areas in estuaries. Over the past 100 years about 87% of the intertidal areas In LWL were eliminated through dredging, filling, and seawall construction. The John’s Island project was constructed in association with other wetland projects in the LWL to restore some of the valuable fish and wildlife nesting, feeding, and roosting areas lost over the years. Phase I was completed in December 2009, and Phase II was completed in October 2013. Together these two projects placed 15,623 tons of 6”-18” limestone rock into 59 individual reef pods spread over 13 acres of lagoon bottom at a cost of $1,423,344. Oysters are filter feeders, and recruit to the rock substrate. One oyster can filter 50 gallons of water per day, contributing to improved water quality. Similar to coral reefs, oysters provide substrate for attachment for a variety of species, and attract a high concentration of larger predators hunting food. Studies by Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) demonstrated that oysters recruiting to the limestone rock at Johns Island enjoyed similar densities as the naturally occurring reefs in LWL. One example of wildlife utilization of the oyster reefs is the American Oystercatcher. American Oystercatchers are shorebirds listed as a species of special concern in Florida. A pair of American Oystercatchers has nested at Snook Islands just to the south since 2006. From this single pair, seven fledged chicks have been produced. There are now five pairs of oystercatchers utilizing the John’s Island project, a testament to its success as fish/wildlife habitat.