JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Jacksonville District, announces two public meetings regarding the Draft Integrated Project Implementation Report (PIR)/Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Loxahatchee River Watershed Restoration Project, part of the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP).
The public is invited to provide input during a public meeting on Thursday, April 18, 2019, from 5:30 to 8 p.m. at the Town of Jupiter Community Center, Room A/B, 200 Military Trail, Jupiter, FL 33458. There will be an additional public meeting the following morning, Friday April 19, 2019, from 9:30 to 11 a.m. at the South Florida Water Management District, B-1 Auditorium, 3301 Gun Club Road, West Palm Beach, FL 33416.
The Loxahatchee River Watershed Restoration Project aims to restore and sustain the overall quantity, quality, timing and distribution of freshwater to the federally designated National Wild and Scenic Northwest Fork of the Loxahatchee River (NWFLR) for current and future generations and to provide flows to enhance hydroperiods in the Loxahatchee Slough; increase connectivity of hydrology, flora, and fauna between natural areas; and improve seasonal timing and distribution of freshwater to improve hydropatterns in drained areas throughout the historic headwaters of the river. The Corps is proposing a restoration plan that includes a surface storage reservoir, aquifer storage and recovery wells, and other structures to capture and store water that is currently lost to tide. Captured water will be redistributed to increase volume and improve timing of freshwater deliveries to the river.
The project area includes approximately 753 square miles located in central and northern Palm Beach County and southern Martin County. Within that area are Jonathan Dickinson State Park, Pal-Mar East/Cypress Creek, Dupuis Wildlife and Environmental Management Areas, J.W. Corbett Wildlife Management Area, Grassy Waters Preserve, Loxahatchee Slough, the last remaining riverine cypress stands in southeast Florida in the Loxahatchee River, and the Loxahatchee River Estuary.
The draft report is available at: https://usace.contentdm.oclc.org/digital/collection/p16021coll7/id/10265
The public comment period ends May 6.
Those interested in submitting comments may do so electronically at: LoxRiverComments@usace.army.mil
Written comments can be mailed to:
Dr. Ann Hodgson
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Jacksonville District P.O. Box 4970
Jacksonville, FL 32232-0019
For additional information on the Loxahatchee River Watershed Restoration Project, visit: www.saj.usace.army.mil/LRWRP