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Project Summary

Munyon Island Restoration

Regional Map


1. Project Identification

Name Munyon Island Restoration
Region Southeast
State Florida
Location John D. MacArthur State Park, Palm Beach County
Date of this update  

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

Habitat Restoration/Protection  
Wetlands
River systems
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.)

Munyon Island lies within the John D. MacArthur State Park located on the northeastern section of Lake Worth Lagoon, Palm Beach County, Florida. Historically the restoration area was part of a wetland system connecting other portions of MacArthur State Park. During the construction of the Intercostal Waterway in the 1940-1950 time period, this area was used as a dredged sediments placement site resulting in the loss of approximately 30-acres of productive mangrove, Spartina species wetlands, and seagrass beds. The proposed project will utilize the authority of the COE provided by Section 1135 of WRDA 1986 to restore and enhance an additional 11-acre site adjacent to a companion project undertaken by Palm Beach County that restored over nine-acres of wetland habitat with Spartina species and red mangrove vegetation for a total of 21-acres. Additionally, associated upland restoration to include a 4 acre protective berm and a 3.7 acre vegetative buffer will be constructed to provide shoreline stabilization on Munyon Island. Finally, approximately 110,000 cubic yards of dredged sediments from the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway will be placed into an anoxic hole, north of Munyon Island to restore nine-acres of submerged aquatic habitat.

Island restoration activities will include the removal of exotic vegetation and some of the excess dredged sediments to establish necessary elevations prior to planting. Additionally, tidal pools and channels will be created to increase habitat and permit more efficient tidal flushing. The shoreline will also be graded to wetland elevations in preparation for planting. To date, the planting of the mangroves and other wetland species has taken place using volunteers (over 200 volunteers donated 973 hours). Finally, the shoreline will be fortified with limestone boulder rip-rap to disperse boat and wind driven waves and protect the newly planted salt marsh vegetation from being washed out.

The Florida State Parks Department has provided the county with manpower and equipment for the removal of exotic plant material, i.e., Brazilian pepper and Australian pine. The NMFS will provide technical advise and consultation while the FWS and EPA will provide pre- and post-monitoring of habitat changes. All partners are involved in an extensive public outreach program designed to use the site as a living classroom for local schools and as a research area for local universities.

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
Coastal America * Coastal America Regions
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(202) 401-9928 * (202) 401-9821 (FAX)
comments to lawrencea@fas.usda.gov