TEQUESTA — Work has begun to restore three mangrove islands and erase decades of erosion in theJupiter Narrows area near Cato's Bridge.
The $1.2 million project, announced Aug. 19, will rebuild the coastal habitat and strengthen the ecosystem in the narrows, a stretch of the Intracoastal Waterway that extends from the bridge, off U.S. 1 north of the Loxahatchee River, north to Coral Cove Park.
It will install natural limestone breakwaters between the navigation channel and the three remaining islands, plant additional mangroves and improve nearby seagrass beds. Construction is expected to run through the fall and be completed in December.
"For decades, these mangrove islands have steadily eroded, threatening the health of the entire Jupiter Narrows
ecosystem," Sue Panella, president and co-founder of Jupiter Narrows Conservation Alliance, said in prepared remarks.
"Today marks the beginning of restoring not only these islands, but the environmental health of the Jupiter Narrows. This project will help preserve an area enjoyed by swimmers, paddlers, kayakers, anglers and boaters while protecting the wildlife that depends on it."
The non-profit alliance, in partnership with the Ocean Conservancy and the Andrew “Red” Harris Foundation, launched the restoration effort in a ceremony attended by Tequesta Mayor Molly Young, State Sen. Gayle Harrell and State Rep. John Snyder, among others.
A breakwater is a structure placed offshore, parallel to the shoreline, that is designed to either absorb or deflect wave energy. Panella said the limestone breakwaters will be placed on the west side of the mangroves in an effort to break up wave action coming from boats and weather.
"These mangroves and the sea grasses around them support so much life," Panella said. "They're a habitat for turtles, manatees, fish, birds, and they're dying. If we let them go, they will die and the wildlife will go elsewhere."
The project follows the recent approval of environmental permits and legislation signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis naming the Jupiter Narrows islands in honor of Andrew "Red" Harris, a Jupiter native who died in 2014 after a boat struck him as he dived near the Jupiter Inlet.
As part of a four-year study, students from Jupiter High School's Environmental Research and Field Studies Academy will monitor the restored mangroves and surrounding seagrass beds.
Julius Whigham II covers northern Palm Beach County and public safety for The Palm Beach Post. You can reach him at jwhigham@pbpost.com and follow him on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter, at @JuliusWhigham. Help support our work: Subscribe today.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Wildlife to benefit from Jupiter Narrows mangrove island protections
