Construction to begin on Living Shoreline in Lake Worth

May 15, 2015
Contact: Jamie Brown, Public Services Director
Phone: 561.586.1720
Email: jbrown@lakeworth.org

The City of Lake Worth is excited to announce the much anticipated “Living Shoreline” project will be starting construction the week of May 18th in Bryant Park. The project is being funded and constructed through Palm Beach County’s Department of Environmental Resource Management and the City of Lake Worth was chosen to be the site of the first ever Living Shoreline concept project.

The project is intended to advance the critical dialogue between art, ecology, and infrastructure in our built environment. The design of the Living Shoreline components are intended to improve water quality, aquatic habitat, and create new vital forms of infrastructure that seek to address sea-level rise while working to regenerate our marine ecosystems.

The expected duration of this project is approximately six weeks. During construction, portions of the sidewalk in Bryant Park will be temporarily closed and we ask that all visitors maintain a safe distance
from construction.

Old Bridge Park Improvements Project

UPDATE: Good afternoon all, Please disregard the previous press release (below)--we were just advised by the county that the project has been put on delay and we will re issue a revised press release at a later time when the project will commence. Thank you in advance Suzanne M. Rosales Public Services Coordinator Public Service Administration City of Lake Worth 1749 3rd Ave, S Lake Worth Phone: 561-586-1720 Fax: 561-586-1750 srosales@lakeworth.org

PRESS RELEASE
FOR RELEASE UPON RECEIPT
CITY OF LAKE WORTH
7 NORTH DIXIE HIGHWAY
LAKE WORTH, FL 33460
LAKEWORTH.ORG

March 10, 2015
Contact: Felipe Lofaso, Assistant Director of Public Services
Phone: 561.586.1720
Email: flofaso@lakeworth.org

The Palm Beach County Department of Environmental Resource Management (ERM) Old Bridge Park Improvements project

In an effort to facilitate future shoreline stabilization work along the Intracoastal shoreline south of the Lake Worth Bridge on the west side of A1A, the County’s Department of Environmental Resource Management plans to begin the exotic removal portion of the Old Bridge Park project the week of March 16th. The Old Bridge Park project will consist of the reconstruction of the deteriorated seawall and associated improvements to the parkon the north side of the bridge along with shoreline stabilization work on the south side of the bridge (exotics removal and replacement with hammock plantings, new pedestrian pathway, rock revetment, oyster reef, and informational kiosk).

The contractor will be working south of the bridge on Ocean Avenue along the water just across the street from the Casino. The attached map shows the exotic removal and replacement with hammock plantings areas in pink. The contractor plans to cut the exotics at ground level and treat to prevent re-growth. The County will have inspectors on-site during the project to ensure quality control. The work is estimated to take between 8 – 10 days. All mangroves, palms, and other native non-exotic species will remain intact.

The City is most appreciative of the County’s Department of Environmental Resource Management for their active involvement in improving the City’s waterways and ensuring the long term survival of our marine assets.
Please direct any questions or comments to the City’s Public Services Department at 561-586-1720.

Located in central Palm Beach County, Lake Worth is a dynamic, multi-cultural city with an individualistic style. People are drawn to the city by its acceptance of different cultures and lifestyles, historic districts, hip downtown and colorful arts district.

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Living Shoreline to be constructed in Lake Worth

Tonight, the city is going to grant a temporary Construction Easement Agreement with Palm Beach County's Department of Environmental Resource Management for "Living Shoreline" improvements at Bryant Park along 90 feet of the seawall north of the boat ramps. The remaining 400 feet of shoreline will include approximately 1,000 tons of rock rip-rap, filter fabric, and bedding stone to be used as a base.

According to NOAA, living shoreline projects utilize a variety of structural and organic materials, such as wetland plants, submerged aquatic vegetation, oyster reefs, coir fiber logs, sand fill, and stone. The benefits of living shorelines include:

• Stabilization of the shoreline.
• Protection of surrounding riparian and intertidal environment.
• Improvement of water quality via filtration of upland run-off.
• Creation of habitat for aquatic and terrestrial species.

The construction and maintenance of the project has no impact on the City’s capital or operating budgets and is
fully funded through PBC ERM funds. The project budget is $150,000.

American Oystercatchers at Lake Worth Lagoon

Comment Up

Thanks Gael Silverblatt and Lynda Mahoney (two former/replaced by politics Lake Worth Planning & Zoning members) for alerting officials on these American Oystercatchers that are nesting in Lake Worth just north of our bridge.  The Environmental Resources Management Department is working in shifts to protect the birds.

Read about it...

Handing over our State

There was a reckless decision made in 2011 when our state legislatures gutted 30 years of growth management. They now put politics back into the decision process by allowing city and county governments to handle it all.  They passed measures to restrict the public from challenging controversial development projects in the name of economic development. They dismantled the Department of Community Affairs and along came the Community Development Act signed into law on June 2, 2011.

Now we have a new bill. Aside from it being an overall lousy bill, one of the worst things in HB703 is the first step towards privatizing a public resource (water) by allowing Large landowners who participate in water storage programs to receive 50-year water use permits. They would then be allowed to sell that water to governments and utilities. No wonder the Fanjuls are on a buying spree. Someone should follow the money. This just keeps corrupt planners in business.

HB 703 - Environmental Regulation

General Bill   by Patronis (Republican)

Environmental Regulation: Specifies authority of counties to enforce certain wetlands, springs protection, & stormwater ordinances, regulations, & rules; provides vote requirements for adoption of certain elements of local government comprehensive plans & plan amendments; prohibits local governments from rescinding certain comprehensive plan amendments; authorizes durations & multiple commencement dates for certain consumptive use permits; requires delegated local governments to follow certain criteria & standards for well construction; provides that proof of insurance meets certain mitigation bank permit requirements; requires certain criteria to be incorporated into regional water supply plans; provides conditions under which DEP is required to establish certain greenhouse gas performance standards & repeal & revise certain rules; establishes solid waste landfill closure account within Solid Waste Management Trust Fund.

Effective Date: July 1, 2014

Last Event: Agriculture & Natural Resources Subcommittee on Monday, February 03, 2014 5:58 PM. Next meeting: March 24.

Casino Grand Opening Tonight and start of Turtle Nesting Season

Comment Up


Tonight the city is having another event at the Casino at the Lake Worth beach to raise money for a clock.  This one will cost $50 per person and begins at 7pm with a ribbon cutting followed by a 1920's party lasting until 11:30pm. It has been reported that the City has sold 200 tickets. Free parking is from 6pm. Folks attending are assembling or renting their costumes with women looking like flappers and men favoring short jackets with two or three buttons rather than jackets with long tailcoats as well as pinstriped suits. At 9:30, there will be fireworks from the Pier.

Today is the start of Turtle season. The County's web site says, "In 1987 Palm Beach County passed the Sea Turtle Protection Ordinance, one of the first in the state. The County's Department of Environmental Resources Management (ERM) is responsible for implementing measures designed to protect sea turtles and urges everyone to learn more about these magnificent creatures.

Every year sea turtle nesting season begins March 1 and ends October 31. Lights visible from the beach during nesting season adversely affect both adult sea turtles and hatchlings by affecting their ability to find the ocean. ERM conducted a study to evaluate the effect of corrective lighting on reducing sea turtle disorientations. The study found that by reducing the number of lights visible from the beach, fewer disorientation events occurred and fewer numbers of disoriented hatchlings were observed, which resulted in a lower percentage of nests disoriented. Lake Worth has installed turtle friendly lighting.

Human activity, noise, and use of flashlights on the beach at night can cause nesting females to halt nesting attempts, resulting in what is called a "false crawl." Today, the most successful predators of sea turtles are humans. As this event is on the very first day of Turtle Nesting Season, the turtles  have the odds with them and won't be affected by car headlights, noise or fireworks.