Wetlands Conservation

Upland Mangrove Enhancement

A critical part of the Southport Turning Notch Extension includes replacing 8.7 acres of an existing mangrove conservation easement with a 16.5-acre upland enhancement of approximately 70,000 new mangroves and wetland plants as well as completing a number of environmental improvements in West Lake Park. Port officials worked closely with port users, the environmental community, and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to develop the plan for the new mangrove habitat. Read more

West Lake Park

West Lake Park is a kayaker’s paradise, occupying a three-mile strip of mangrove estuary and uplands adjacent to the Intracoastal Waterway in the southern portion of Broward County. As part of a mitigation project to offset impacts from two other capital improvement projects, Broward County’s Port Everglades worked with multiple local, state and federal agencies and local environmental businesses to create, restore, protect and enhance more than 81.5 acres, including 22 acres of habitat creation, including seagrass, mangroves, mudflats, tidal pools, and upland hammock. Sixteen former spoil islands (dredged when creating the intracoastal waterway), previously dominated by Australian pines and Brazilian pepper, were scraped down or cleared and replanted with native species to create thriving native ecosystems. The mitigation at West Lake Park Segment 4 is in advance of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Harbor Navigation Improvement Project to deepen and widen port channels to accommodate larger cargo and petroleum ships, and to offset impacts for the completed Southport Turning Notch. This award-winning environmental initiative is one of the largest habitat mitigation projects of its kind in the region, and a model for how ports can enhance natural resources and support economic growth.

Dr. Von D. Mizell - Eula Johnson State Park

This beautiful state beach is part of Port Everglades environmental legacy. The port donated approximately 25.6 acres to the state in 1977, and has since created 23 acres of wetlands, planted with 160,000 red mangroves and 7300 linear feet of shoreline protected by rip-rap comprised of native limerock. In addition, the port planted 6,500 native plants to beautify the landscape. Read more