Commissioner Koons Helps Plant Mangroves in New Natural Area

Despite the summer heat, the volunteers succeeded in planting more than 1,500 mangroves.

On Saturday, June 17, 2006 Commissioner Koons joined volunteers who planted mangroves at Ocean Ridge Natural Area. The 25-acre project is nearing completion and will include a small boat basin with a docking facility, an educational kiosk, a concrete nature trail leading to a boardwalk over wetlands and a two-story observation platform.

This "boater's island", located just south of the Ocean Avenue Bridge in Boynton Beach, will provide habitat for fisheries and wildlife by creating 3.5 acres of mangrove and open-water habitat, a tropical hardwood hammock and transitional embankment with a riprap shoreline.

Senior Environmental Analyst Harvey Rudolph (left) joins Commissioner Koons in planting some red mangroves.