Loxahatchee River-Lake Worth Creek Aquatic Preserve

"Explored on canoe or kayak, the wild and scenic waters can easily transport an open mind back in time to the good old days of Trapper Nelson."

Loxahatchee River-Lake Worth Creek Aquatic Preserve includes the Northwest Fork of the Loxahatchee River that was designated as the first of two Wild and Scenic Rivers in Florida. Loxahatchee River translates to "The Creek of the Turtle." Designated as the Loxahatchee River-Lake Worth Creek Aquatic Preserve in 1970, the aquatic preserve includes the remains of Trapper Nelson's Wildlife Zoo. Trapper Nelson's, aka Tarzan of the Loxahatchee, homestead and zoological park was built along the narrow, scenic Northwest Fork of the Loxahatchee River in the 1950s.

The upper reaches are composed of freshwater and tidal marsh riverine communities. Near and within the estuary, mangrove communities line the shoreline and submerged resources include tidal flats, seagrass beds and oyster bars. 

Kitching Creek is a major tributary to the Loxahatchee River that traverses Jonathan Dickinson State Park and empties into the federally designated Wild and Scenic Northwest Fork of the Loxahatchee River. Kitching Creek has been impacted and redirected by land development activities that ultimately resulted in lower groundwater levels and degradation of natural wetlands. Tidal effects at Jupiter Inlet combined with reduced freshwater flows to the Northwest Fork have resulted in saltwater progression upstream.

The Kitching Creek restoration project redirects flows to Kitching Creek, increases the flow to the Loxahatchee for habitat restoration, raises groundwater levels, restores degraded wetlands, and reduces nutrient loads reaching the North and Northwest Forks of the Loxahatchee.

Partners with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection include Martin County and the South Florida Water Management District. Staff involvement in biological and water quality monitoring conducted by Loxahatchee River Control District and the water management district maintains an ongoing and improved awareness of the health of the waters of the aquatic preserve. 

The Indian River Lagoon Aquatic Preserves are a proud partner of the Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics and were selected as a 2017 and 2018 Leave No Trace Hot Spot. To learn more about Leave No Trace in the Indian River Lagoon, contact Matthew Anderson, 772-448-5930.

Volunteering at Indian River Lagoon Aquatic Preserves

The Indian River Lagoon Aquatic Preserves provide a variety of volunteer opportunities including ecosystem science projects, restoration and spoil island activities. Volunteers help with activities such as wildlife monitoring, annual seagrass monitoring or microplastic sampling. The Shoreline Restoration Project enables volunteers to get involved in shoreline stabilization through native plantings. On spoil islands, volunteers take a hand in improving visitor access through activities such as invasive plant removal or installing picnic tables, fire rings or human waste bag dispensers.

For more information, please contact our office at: IRLAP@FloridaDEP.gov or call 772-448-5930.

For other opportunities to help preserve the Indian River Lagoon and surrounding aquatic preserves, consider joining the Friends of the Spoil Islands.