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Oystercatcher nesting birds utlizing restored habitat in Lake Worth Lagoon​

​​​Working To Improve Water Quality, Increase Resiliency and Restore Habitat​​​


Thank you for your support of water quality improvements and habitat restoration in Lake Worth Lagoon. Your commitment is making a positive difference for coastal systems state-wide.  Since 1998, the Florida Legislature has appropriated over $26 million for restoration and enhancement of the lagoon, a 20-mile estuary extending from North Palm Beach to Ocean Ridge in Palm Beach County. These legislative funds have been effectively leveraged with local funds to support 62 projects totaling over $95 million.
 
While the Lake Worth Lagoon Initiative (LWLI), a multiagency and stakeholder collaborative established in 2008, has made considerable progress to reverse impacts to this estuarine habitat from human activities during the past century, challenges remain within the lagoon and its watershed.  
​​For the 2026 legislative session, LWLI requests $6,592,500 in state legislative appropriations to fund the ranked projects identified below that will continue to benefit the lagoon’s water quality and habitat.​
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​Rank Order: 1
Project Name: Lake Worth Lagoon Bathymetric Survey
Local Sponsor: Palm Beach County
Funding Request: $110,000
Proposed Match Amount: $110,000
Estimated Total Project Cost: $220,000

This project includes the collection of lagoon-wide bathymetry to update the last comprehensive dataset from 2003.  The new survey will provide high-resolution bathymetric depth and sediment data to assess existing conditions and changes since 2003 while driving design and planning of future restoration projects.
​Rank Order: 2
Project Name: North Lake Way Living Shoreline
Local Sponsor: Town of Palm Beach
Funding Request: $262,500
Proposed Match Amount: $262,500
Estimated Total Project Cost: $525,000

Final design, regulatory permitting and construction of a living shoreline.  The project will restore an existing, eroded shoreline with a series of limestone rock planters to support mangroves and a shoreline buffer of native vegetation to provide intertidal habitat and enhance a portion of developed hardened shoreline.
​Rank Order: 3
Project Name: City of Greenacres Septic-to-Sewer Conversion 
Local Sponsor: City of Greenacres
Funding Request: $795,000
Proposed Match Amount: $795,000
Estimated Total Project Cost: $1,590,000

Construction and installation of gravity sanitary sewer main lines, lateral connections and other system components to complete a portion of the City’s larger conversion efforts of 1,170 residential and commercial units.  The project is focused on the conversion of existing septic units along existing dry retention areas to improve surface and groundwater quality that ultimately drains to Lake Worth Lagoon.
​Rank Order: 4
Project Name: Peanut Island and Lake Worth Lagoon Habitat Restoration​ Project​
Local Sponsor:  Palm Beach County
Funding Request: $660,000
Proposed Match Amount: $660,000
Estimated Total Project Cost: $1,320,000

The project consists of maintenance dredging, beach nourishment and shoreline structure improvements to provide enhanced flushing and water quality improvements for existing corals within a public snorkel lagoon while stabilizing the existing park shoreline to improve access and public use.  Maintenance dredge spoil will be beneficially re-used for beach nourishment and additional park improvements. 
​Rank Order: 5
Project Name: Town of Lake Park Final Septic-to-Sewer Conversion Project 
Local Sponsor:  Town of Lake Park
Funding Request: $1,000,000
Proposed Match Amount: $1,000,000
Estimated Total Project Cost: $2,000,000

The project includes abandonment and removal of existing septic systems and the construction of lateral connections to the existing municipal sanitary sewer system.  This project is focused on the final 42 parcels, including the Town’s Public Works Headquarters and will complete the full town-wide conversion of 4,374 parcels.
​Rank Order: 6
Project Name: Town of Manalapan Septic-to-Sewer Conversion Project 
Local Sponsor:  Town of Manalapan
Funding Request: $3,366,000
Proposed Match Amount: $3,366,000
Estimated Total Project Cost: $6,732,000

The project includes the final design, permitting and construction of sewer system improvements as a portion of the town-wide septic to sewer conversion project.  The funded portion of the project consists of a force main connection to an existing municipal sewer system and other system improvements on Hypoluxo Island, providing for water quality improvements to the island which is entirely within Lake Worth Lagoon.
​Rank Order: 7
Project Name: Golfview Heights of Westgate Water Systems Improvement 
Local Sponsor:  Palm Beach County
Funding Request: $399,000
Proposed Match Amount: $399,000
Estimated Total Project Cost: $798,000

The project includes abandonment and removal of existing septic systems and the subsequent construction of lateral connections to the existing municipal sanitary sewer system.  This project includes 19 single-family parcels and will improve water quality loading into Lake Worth Lagoon while completing portions of a larger project previously funded by the Lake Worth Lagoon Initiative.
​TOTAL AMOUNTS
Funding Request: ​$6,592,500
Proposed Match Amount: $6,592,500 
Estimated Total Project Cost:​ $13,185,000​

Lake Worth Lagoon’s economic, environmental and recreational value is connected to its resources, which include seagrass beds, mangroves, reefs, recreationally and commercially important fish, and imperiled species such as manatees and sea turtles. The water quality, sediment and habitat improvements associated with these projects will continue to protect, restore and enhance the lagoon’s valuable resources.


Past Successes and Highlights​​​


​Tarpon Cove islands aerial image

Restoring habitats to improve water quality for the benefit of wildlife and people

​​​The creation of Tarpon Cove islands (pictured above) in central Lake Worth Lagoon was completed in 2023. Significant seagrass, intertidal and shorebird nesting habitats were created as well as capping of 13 acres of existing muck sediments.

Outreach education with local area schools to teach children about life in Lake Worth Lagoon

Enhancing recreational, ecotourism and educational opportunities

​​Providing access to popular ecotourism activities like kayaking and expanding immersive public outreach and education events (pictured above) to connect and educate our youth. ​

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​South Cove Restoration island in 2012
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Applying technological innovation and community support for habitat restoration

​S​​out​h​ Cove Natural Area structure completed in 2012 (pictured above) and in 2019 (pictured below) showing lush vegetation growth.  Initially a challenge to gain public support, now the most visited Natural Area in Palm Beach County!​

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South Cove Restoration island in 2019 lush with mangrove trees ​
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​  Lake Worth Lagoon Initiative Logo
Steering Committee Members
Palm Beach County, South Florida Water Management District, Florida Department of Environmental Protection, Florida Inland Navigation District, Palm Beach County League of Cities, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission ​
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For more information on the efforts of the Lake Worth Lagoon Initiative, contact:
Lake Worth Lagoon Initiative​
c/o Deborah Drum, Department Director
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​