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Project Summary

Lost Creek Restoration

Regional Map


1. Project Identification

Name Lost Creek Restoration
Region Southeast
State Florida
Location Ponce Creek, Volusia County
Date of this update  

2. Problem(s) addressed (check one or more)

Habitat Restoration/Protection  
Wetlands
River systems X
Beaches/Dunes
Offshore areas
Mangroves
Assisting Species at Risk
Pollution Mitigation
Non-Point Source Pollution
Other (describe)  

3. Project Description (100 words or less. Please include qualitative information, e.g. acres of habitat restored, miles of steam reopened to migration, and legislative authorization, e.g. WRDA, ISTEA, CWA/NEP, CZMA, etc.)

The project site is a salt marsh complex located between Lost Creek and Halifax River northwest of Ponce Inlet along the Atlantic Intercostal Waterway, in Volusia County, Florida. Sometime before 1943, sediments from the dredging of the Intercostal Waterway were deposited in such a way that they completely blocked a natural tidal creek (Lost Creek) and isolated approximately 200 acres of adjacent salt marsh. The original dredged sediment island at the mouth of Lost Creek has been expanded considerably, and has served to further isolate a section of Lost Creek from the main stream body. The isolation of the creek and lack of tidal flushing resulted in an increase in siltation, decreasing the creek's depth to between two and three feet. Additional impacts to the salt marsh complex have included the loss of nearly 225 acres of productive low salt marsh, frequent fish kills during the summer months when dissolved oxygen is low, and a constant state of semi-high tide.

The original plan for the salt marsh complex was to use the COE engineering expertise to re-establish the connection between Lost Creek and the Halifax River using drag line equipment to restore creek contours that would closely match the original creek=s contours. The COE was to use the authority of Section 1135 of WRDA 1986. However, independent from this project, the Volusia Country Mosquito Control Agency, in order to reduce the breeding of mosquitos in the area, cut small channels through the salt marsh. Unexpectedly, these small channels have remained open and as of early Spring, 1995, have grown to allow a semipermanent connection between the Lost Creek area and the Halifax River. The COE and its other partners have now surveyed the area and have determined that the original project is no longer necessary in the near future.

4. Goals/Benefits (quantify where possible using measures of success list) Was a cost-benefit study conducted for this project? yes/no If yes, provide a summary of findings.

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5. Partners (include each participant's responsibilities - funding, permitting, etc.)

6. Funding/Contributions (organization and amount)

7. Legislative authorities used by each participant

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8. Value added by Coastal America Partnership including Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA) goals achieved through this collaboration (500 words or less)

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9. Project Status

Initiation date  
Completion date  
Current stage  

10. Contacts

11. Any additional information/comments

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This page was last updated on Saturday, 24-Jun-2000 11:48:49 EDT
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