Updated  10/13/06

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Peanut Island Environmental Enhancement
And Snook Islands Natural Area 

Work is scheduled to begin the week of July 7^th on a major enhancement project on Peanut Island and Snook Islands Natural Area in the Lake Worth Lagoon. The project is a combined effort of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the Florida Inland Navigation District, and Palm Beach County’s Departments of Environmental Resources Management and Parks and Recreation. 

The Peanut Island Enhancement Project will create and improve both uplands and wetlands to provide important habitats for fish and wildlife, while interfacing with the island’s function as a continued dredged material management area and recreational area for the public. The island is also uniquely situated to provide environmental education and ecotourism opportunities showcasing Florida’s threatened habitats. 

The work, as detailed in the project fact sheet, will involve the removal of many of the island’s Australian pines, which will be the most visible and immediate modification. However, this is only a temporary stage in the total enhancement of the island, since the island will be planted with native upland and wetland species afterwards. As the new trees and vegetation mature, the island will continue to evolve as a tropical paradise as the project continues—and visitors will appreciate and enjoy the island as never before. 

The tree removal will be followed by the creation of a shallow water reef, lagoons, tidal pond and flushing channels to flush existing mangroves, and the re-vegetation of wetland and upland areas with native plant species as shown on the attached project plan. The creation of shoreline protection structures will protect the amenities and public access features such as bridges, a mangrove boardwalk, and an observation deck/swimming platform, which will provide public access to the newly created habitats. The elevation of the northern part of the island will be lowered by the removal of one million cubic yards of sand to then reconstruct a containment levee for the future management of dredge material. 

The arrival of  equipment and initial work will be noticeable after July 8. Clearing will begin on July 14 while the loading of barges and the removal of material and placement at Lake Worth in preparation for the creation of  Snook Islands will begin on August 16. 

When complete, the newly created 100-acre Snook Islands Natural Area adjacent to the Lake Worth Golf Course will include seagrass beds, mangrove and spartina habitats, an oyster reef, deep water habitat, and flushing channels as detailed in the project fact sheet and shown on the project plan. 

For further information, please contact the Palm Beach County Department of Environmental Resources Management at 561-233-2400 (or) the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Public Affairs Office at 904-232-2236 or 904-232-1238 (or) the Palm Beach County Department of Parks and Recreation at 561-966-6600 (or) the Florida Inland Navigation District at 561-627-3386.