loxahatchee river information

8/9/2019 Loxahatchee River Information

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Begin Your JourneyTouch Here


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Loxahatchee RiverLoxahatchee RiverA unique Florida treasure...


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Ecosystem and Habitats

This watershed is home

to many rare andendangered species,

such as the wood stork

and four petal paw-paw,

a shrub found only inthis area.


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Changes Over Time

Dredging, construction

of canals and

highways, and wateruse have changed

water flow patterns,

degraded water

quality, and resulted inthe loss of natural

areas.


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Protecting the River

Many efforts are under

way to protect and

restore the Loxahatchee

River and its remaining

260-square-mile

watershed.


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Loxahatchee River District

The Loxahatchee River

District is the leading

authority on the

Loxahatchee River. It

has scientific and

educational programs,

and serves as an

advisory agency for the

many diverse efforts

under way.


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Looking at the WatershedLooking at the WatershedThe Loxahatchee River covers

approximately 260 square miles.

There are several key habitatscontained within this ecosystem.


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Grassy Waters PreserveGrassy Waters PreserveThe headwaters of the river are located

in Grassy Waters Preserve. Sawgrass,

spike rush, cypress trees, and hardwoodhammocks are the dominant habitats in

this area.


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Grassy Waters PreserveGrassy Waters PreserveHistorically, the water flowed from the

Grassy Water marshes and swamps

through the Loxahatchee Slough

northward to the Southwest andNorthwest Forks of the Loxahatchee River.


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Three forks of the RiverThree forks of the River

The Southwest Fork:


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The North Fork:


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The Northwest Fork:


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The Wild and Scenic

portion of the river is in

the Northwest Fork


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Wild and Scenic RiverWild and Scenic RiverThe pristine waters of Floridas first Wild

and Scenic River are a beautiful reminder of

the joys of being in nature.


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Wild and Scenic RiverWild and Scenic RiverCypress trees and sabal palms tower over you as you

quietly canoe down the meandering river. The water

here is fresh, and often you will see turtles and alligators

basking in the sun and ospreys soaring above you.


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Wild and Scenic RiverWild and Scenic RiverJonathan Dickinson State Park includes significant portions of theNorthwest Fork. For this reason, many areas remain untouched

by human development and impacts.


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Southwest ForkSouthwest ForkToday, the C-18 canal is connected to the Southwest Fork forflood control. During a flood control release, the structure

near Indiantown Road and I-95 (S-46) is opened and

freshwater moves into the Southwest Fork of the river.


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Southwest ForkSouthwest ForkThe Southwest Fork has seen much residential and commercial

development in the last century, but it is still home to oyster

reefs. One oyster can clean up to 50 gallons per day!


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The North Fork has also been developed extensively. Seawalls,

docks, and bridges are common along its banks.


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EstuaryEstuaryThe downstream section of each fork is brackish, part

saltwater and part freshwater, and support many important

species such as mangroves, oysters, and seagrasses.


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CentralEmbaymentCentralEmbaymentAll three forks flow into the Central Embayment area.


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CentralEmbaymentCentralEmbaymentThis area provides wonderful recreational

opportunities for boaters.


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Jupiter InletJupiter InletThe Central Embayment then flows out through the

Jupiter Inlet into the Atlantic Ocean and marine habitats.


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Jupiter InletJupiter InletThis area provides marine habitat and is home to many

coral reef species.


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LagoonsLagoonsThe Indian River Lagoon to the north and the Lake Worth Creek

Aquatic Preserve to the south, also known as the Intracoastal

Waterway, also flows into the embayment/inlet area.


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LagoonsLagoonsThese two bodies of water are rich with marine species

and are an important nursery habitat for reef fish and

game fish such as snook and snapper.

With more than 4,300 species

of plants and animals, the

Indian River Lagoon is the

most biodiverse estuary in

North America.


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EcosystemEcosystemAs you can see, the Loxahatchee River is a

diverse and complex ecosystem,

supporting a wide range of species.


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RecreationRecreationThe Loxahatchee River is a vital part of our local

community. Many people live on the water and

enjoy its peacefulness and beauty. Others choose

to use the river for their recreation.


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RecreationRecreationThe Loxahatchee River offers many wild

and scenic adventures.


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RecreationRecreationFishing, boating, kayaking, canoeing, snorkeling,swimming, and hiking are all wonderful ways to

experience the Loxahatchee River.


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RecreationRecreationWe are responsible for the health of theriver. Join the Loxahatchee River District

as we "Preserve Nature by Design".

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