Port Everglades Upland Mangrove Enhancement

About the Program

Category: Community and Economic Development (Best in Category)

Year: 2018

Broward County’s Port Everglades is now able to construct much-need berths for cargo ships after working with environmental organizations to develop a thriving wetland habitat that supports wildlife and ecological quality in the center of an urban, industrial seaport. The Port invested $15.8 million to complete a 16.5-acre Upland Mangrove Enhancement Area to replace 8.7 acres of an existing overgrown, shallow and choked plant habitat adjacent to port docks that can now be expanded. The 16.5-acre engineered mangrove habitat project was officially confirmed as “trending towards success” in November 2016 by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. As a result, the Port can begin removing the original 8.7 acres of mangroves (a protected species) to lengthen a 900-foot ship turn-around area, called the Southport Turning Notch, to a total of 2,400 feet so up to five new cargo berths can be constructed. Broward County transferred ownership of approximately 60 acres of wetlands habitat at Port Everglades, including the successful 16.5-acre Wetland Enhancement project, to the State of Florida for its permanent protection as a conservation area on August 22, 2017. In addition, the State developed a memorandum of understanding with the South Florida Audubon Society to manage the conservation area.