Skip to main content
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • Linkedin
  • Youtube
  • ASK US
Home South Florida Water Management District
  • Who We Are
    • Governing Board Chairman
    • Open Government
    • Governing Board
    • Budget & Finance Reports
    • Careers
    • Locations
    • Contact Us
  • Our Work
    • Flood Control
    • Water Supply Planning
    • Water Quality Improvement
    • Ecosystem Restoration
    • Python Elimination Program
    • Addressing Blue-Green Algae
    • Resiliency
  • Doing Business with Us
    • Permits
    • RegPermitting
    • ePermitting
    • Right of Way Permits
    • Procurement
    • Real Estate
    • Grants/Funding Opportunities
  • Community & Residents
    • Water Conservation
    • Recreation
    • Navigation
    • Education Center
    • Everglades License Plate
  • Science & Data
    • Real-Time Data
    • Vertical Datum Upgrade
    • Scientific Publications & SFER
    • DBHYDRO
    • Weather
    • Operational Planning
    • GIS
    • Survey Data
    • Modeling
  • News & Meetings
    • News Releases
    • Public Meetings
    • Calendar
    • Speakers Bureau
    • Media, Photo & Video
    • Fact Sheets
  • Contact Us
  • Careers
  • Locations
  1. Home
  2. news
  3. nr 2018 0503 lox river dam restoration
  • News Releases
  • News Archive (Oct. 2009 - July 2020)
  • Fact Sheets
  • Calendar
  • Speakers Bureau
  • Media, Photo & Video
  • Public Meetings and Forums
SFWMD Completes Restoration of Historic Loxahatchee River Dams
photo of the Loxahatchee River

May 3, 2018

Jupiter, FL – Today the South Florida Water Management District's (SFWMD) Water Resources Analysis Coalition received a detailed presentation about the recently completed restoration of two historic dams on the Loxahatchee River in northern Palm Beach County.

The dams, first built in the 1930s by local families, control and regulate upstream flow stages of the Northwest Fork of the river,the state's first designated "wild and scenic" river. The dams also maintain the hydrology of the riverine floodplain ecosystem. Modeling has shown that without the two dams in place, the upstream water levels would be about 1.5 feet lower, draining the freshwater swamp and encouraging saltwater intrusion.

"One of SFWMD's primary missions is the protection of natural systems and these dam renovations are crucial to ensuring the future of the Loxahatchee River," said Governing Board Vice Chair Melanie Peterson, a Palm Beach County resident and former member of the Loxahatchee River Management Coordinating Council. "These dams are not only living parts of Palm Beach County's history, but they are essential to protecting the cypress swamp floodplain that makes the Loxahatchee so unique."

In February of 2017, the SFWMD Governing Board approved $2.5 million worth of restoration work to the two historic dams. Restoration work began in March 2017 and was completed in January, approximately six months ahead of schedule. The work was originally not expected to be completed until July 2018 but the contractor worked through last summer's wet season to speed up the completion and bring the restoration benefits to Palm Beach County residents sooner.

The repairs, which came after extensive public input and thorough review, minimize any impact to the river's natural resources and preserve the historical integrity of the dams. Areas of the dam that have decayed were repaired and soil under and around the dams were stabilized to reduce seepage.

more »


{"preview_thumbnail":"/sites/default/files/styles/video_embed_wysiwyg_preview/public/video_thumbnails/257178264.jpg?itok=bHz57YeT","video_url":"https://vimeo.com/257178264","settings":{"responsive":1,"width":"854","height":"480","autoplay":0},"settings_summary":["Embedded Video (Responsive)."]}

See how the restoration of two historic dams along the Loxahatchee River in Jupiter benefits the ecosystem of this federally designated "Wild and Scenic River" and improves public recreation access for kayaking, fishing and more.

  • ASK US
  • Who We Are
    • Governing Board
    • Big Cypress Basin Board
    • Open Government
    • Public Records Request
  • Our Work
    • Flood Control
    • Resiliency
    • Emergency Management
    • Water Supply Planning
    • Water Quality Improvement
    • Ecosystem Restoration
    • Land Management
  • Community and Residents
    • Water Conservation
    • Year-Round Rule
    • Recreation
    • Educational Center
    • Volunteering
  • Doing Business with Us
    • Permits
    • RegPermitting
    • ePermitting
    • Right of Way Permits
    • Procurement
    • Real Estate
    • Grants/Funding
    • Agriculture
    • AVATAR
  • Science and Information/Data
    • Real-Time Data
    • Water Levels
    • Scientific Publications & SFER
    • DBHYDRO
    • Weather
    • Operational Planning
    • Environmental Monitoring
    • Modeling
  • News and Events
    • News Releases
    • Meeting Agendas & Minutes
    • Calendar
    • Photo and Video Resources
South Florida Water Management District

Contact Information

3301 Gun Club Road
West Palm Beach, FL 33406

561-686-8800

800-432-2045 (Florida Only)

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • Linkedin
  • Youtube
  • ASK US
  • Privacy Policy
  • Disclaimer
  • Accessibility
  • Contact Us
  • Locations
  • Careers