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Peanut Island Environmental Restoration Facts & Figures

 

Peanut Island Environmental Enhancement is nearing completion! The project construction has been on-going since May 2003. The 2004 hurricanes set the schedule back a few months while hurricane clean-up, repairs and beach restoration was completed. The project construction is scheduled for completion this summer. The Grand Opening will be determined and announced by PBC Parks.

The project (see: 800KB plan view) Adobe PDF Document consists of clearing/chipping 60 acres of exotic vegetation and excavating/removing approximately 1.2 million cubic yards of dredged material deposits to create the following upland/wetland habitat and public access features:

Peanut Island – Habitat Features

  • Shallow-water Reef (1.3 acres-southeast) is teaming with reef fish and manatees (in the winter)
  • Shallow-water Lagoons (3.0 acres-southeast and west) provide much needed seagrass and fisheries habitat
  • Mangroves (3.0 acres-west) provide essential fisheries, bird and wildlife habitat
  • Tidal Channels and Pond (1.5 acres-west) provide tidal flushing to the mangroves, while providing an opportunity for kayakers to cruise the interior channels.
  • Maritime Hammock (7.1 acres-surrounding FIND levee) is essential habitat (food/shelter) for breeding and migratory birds and wildlife.
  • Beach Dune/Coastal Strand (8.0/4.0 acres-FIND levee) provides shoreline stabilization while providing habitat for birds and wildlife.
  • Over 125,000 native plants have been installed on Peanut Island to create these habitats which provide a tropical paradise and unique opportunity for environmental education/recreation, while showcasing Florida's unique and threatened habitats.

Peanut Island – Public Access Features

  • Mangrove Boardwalk (west) provides a 240' walkway over tidal channels and through mangrove habitat
  • Bridges (southeast) beautiful bridges allow viewing and access to the reef and lagoon system
  • Observation Deck/Floating Platforms (southeast) allow the public to view, enter and snorkel in the reef habitat
  • Rock Crib Breakwater and Public Access Platform (southeast) provides a 300' walkway over water, surrounding the reef system
  • Floating Dock Facilities (west) provides ADA water taxi access and small boat access and docking for up to 12 boats
  • "Peanut Pinnacle" (southeast) a 40' tall panoramic view of the island and surrounding waters

Snook Islands Natural Area (recipient/fill site for the 1.2 million cubic yards of material removed from Peanut Island-located waterward of the Lake Worth Golf Course)
*Note: Please visit the Snook Island web page.

The $13.4 million environmental enhancement project is a product of the partnering efforts of Palm Beach County, United States Army Corps of Engineers and Florida Inland Navigation District.

The Florida Inland Navigation District (FIND) and the Port of Palm Beach [External Links] are the primary land owners of the 79 acre island and have generously made the perimeter of the island available to the public as a park. Peanut Island has always been a very popular destination for boaters. With the opening of the County's Peanut Island Park in 1999, the island currently offers a boat dock, fishing pier, campsites, picnicking, grills and restroom/shower facilities in a tropical paradise.

The environmental enhancement of Peanut Island will provide integral habitat for fisheries and wildlife in the Lake Worth Lagoon, while interfacing with the Island's function as a dredged material management site and popular boating and recreational destination for the public.
 

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