November 15, 2016

Thousands Come Out to Support Lake Worth Lagoon
SFWMD-sponsored Third Annual LagoonFest Just One of Many Efforts Benefitting Waterway 
 
SFWMD mascot Freddy the Alligator entertains children at the Third Annual LagoonFest celebration of the Lake Worth Lagoon on November 12 in downtown West Palm Beach.

West Palm Beach, FL - Thousands of residents flocked to the shores of the Lake Worth Worth Lagoon in downtown West Palm Beach on Saturday to celebrate the unique waterway that flows through the heart of Palm Beach County, the 20-mile-long Lake Worth Lagoon.  S outh Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) Governing Board Member Melanie Peterson joined elected officials and representatives from other agencies as a speaker on stage at the third annual LagoonFest.
 
"The South Florida Water Management District and our many partners here today appreciate your help to continue the momentum that gains speed every year," Peterson, who has spoken at every LagoonFest, told the crowd. "We can be part of the success to ensure the Lagoon is an inspiration and call to action for future generations."
 
The event included mascots such as SFWMD's own Freddy the Alligator and informational booths on environmental and recreational topics impacting the Lagoon. Peterson also shared with the crowd many ongoing projects that SFWMD and other agencies are working on to restore the Lagoon. These include:
  • Removing exotic plants and restoring the native habitat on the south side of the Old Bridge Park site in Lake Worth.
  • Planning for a seawall and floating docks on the north side of the Old Bridge Park site in Lake Worth.
  • Installing wetland planters along the shorelines of Currie and Osprey Parks in northern West Palm Beach.
  •  Planning for a "living shoreline" that creates habitat for oysters, birds and fish at the FPL Manatee Lagoon Eco Discovery Center near Riviera Beach.
  • Enhancing the existing snorkeling trail underwater off Phil Foster Park in Riviera Beach.
  • Rebooting the Lake Worth Lagoon Initiative Grant Program to improve water quality to give money allocated by the Legislature to projects that will improve stormwater runoff management, convert septic systems to sewer systems and restore habitat to improve the water quality and habitat of the Lagoon.

LagoonFest was organized by the Lake Worth Lagoon Initiative, a multi-agency group that provides support for increasing awareness and carrying out action plans and projects to benefit the Lagoon.
Media Contact: 
Randy Smith  |   rrsmith@sfwmd.gov    |  Office: 561-682-2800  |  Cell: 561-389-3386
The South Florida Water Management District is a regional governmental agency that manages the water resources in the southern part of the state. It is the oldest and largest of the state's five water management districts. Our mission is to protect South Florida's water resources by balancing and improving flood control, water supply, water quality and natural systems.


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