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​Scene from river with cabbage palm growing horizontal across river

​Preserving Florida’s first federally-designated Wild and Scenic River for future generations​​
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Working For Our River

Since its inception in 2000, the Loxahatchee River Preservation Initiative (LRPI) has guided over $46 million in regional watershed restoration projects within northeastern Palm Beach County and southern Martin County. LRPI, a multiagency partnership, has effectively leveraged state funds with local funds in a cost-share program which has a proven track record of delivering tangible environmental benefits aimed at preserving and protecting the resource for future generations to enjoy.

The river, wildlife and our community benefit from the LRPI’s work already completed, but there is more work to be done as the Loxahatchee River remains an impaired water body.  Continued investments in LRPI-supported projects will provide a measurable increase in water storage capacity as well as reductions in nutrient loading that will enable the Loxahatchee River to achieve water quality and quantity targets on an expedited timetable.
​For the 2026 legislative session, LRPI ranked two critical projects for which $354,794 in state legislative funding assistance is requested. The total local match for all projects represents 50% of the total projects cost of $802,057.
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Rank Order:​ 1
Project Name: Seminole Basin Water Quality Improvements
Funding Request: $241,794
Local Sponsor: Town of Jupiter
Matching Funds: $334,263
Total Project Cost: $576,057
Rank Order: 2​
Project Name: Loxahatchee River Headwaters Invasive Exotic Plant Removal
Funding Request: $113,000
Local Sponsor: South Indian River Control District
Matching Funds: $113,000
Total Project Cost: $226,000
Person standing at the river headwaters in Loxahatchee Slough Natural Area​


The Loxahatchee River and its Watershed​

The Loxahatchee River is the southernmost tributary of the Indian River Lagoon and includes the Northwest Fork of the river, the first federally-designated Wild and Scenic River in Florida. The river’s current watershed is 260 square miles of northeastern Palm Beach County and southern Martin County. 
Past changes associated with agriculture, flood control and other urban land uses have impacted this river system. In response to the need for restoration, LRPI, a multiagency partnership, formed and has made great strides in restoring the river and its surrounding watershed.
​The river is meeting minimum flow levels on a more consistent basis.


Past Successes and Highlights

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American River Otter
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​Natural Area Restoration
LRPI funding contributed to over 24,000 acres of habitat restoration within the river’s watershed. Funded projects have 
re-established water levels closer to the conditions that existed prior to when these areas were drained and altered in the past. The enhanced storage capacity for surface water enables the river to receive freshwater during the dry season, helping it meet the state-developed “minimum flows and levels” criteria.
Enhanced habitat and public-use infrastructure supported by LRPI funds also improve opportunities for recreational activities such as paddling, hiking, cycling and fishing.
​​Septic-to-Sewer Conversions
Six LRPI-funded projects have converted septic systems to municipal wastewater systems and educated the public on proper septic tank maintenance. These projects have directly improved the river’s water quality and have increased water supply by recycling wastewater. As a result of neighborhood septic-to-sewer conversions from 2012 through this year, about 48 million gallons of septic effluent is no longer entering the watershed.
Monitoring shows water quality improvements in portions of the river and its watershed

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Stormwater Outfall Retrofits

LRPI has funded 18 projects that have improved stormwater management infrastructure. These improvements took place in the urban environment and have resulted in greater treatment of stormwater prior to discharge into the river’s sensitive habitats.
​​Present and Future

Over the past 20 years, significant progress has been made to improve conditions in the Loxahatchee River and its watershed. Restored natural areas allow nature to yield higher quality water down river year round. Septic-to-sewer efforts have produced substantial decreases in the amount of septic effluent that reaches the watershed, while stormwater retrofit projects in the urban estuary capture and treat run-off providing meaningful benefits. 

There are many areas of success, still more work needs to be done.  The Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s most recent assessment of the Loxahatchee River Watershed identified areas that are impaired. LRPI’s opportunity is to address these impairments through our future work.​

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​LRPI logo

​LOXAHATCHEE RIVER PRESERVATION INITIATIVE​​​​​ [EXTERNAL LINK]
​South Florida Water Management District, Florida Department of Environmental Protection (Florida Park Service), Jupiter Inlet District, Loxahatchee River Environmental Control District, Martin County, Palm Beach County, South Indian River Water Control District, Town of Jupiter, Village of Tequesta, Public at Large​​​​​

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This information was prepared by the Palm Beach County Department of Environmental Resources Management (September 2025).
For questions, please contact: 
Department Director Deborah Drum
Palm Beach County Board of County Commissioners
Department of Environmental Resources Management
2300 North Jog Road, West Palm Beach, FL 33411-2743 | 561-233-2400

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