Scheduled to be open August 23, 2008, the Loxahatchee River Environmental Center 'River Center' will trace the Loxahatchee River from its headwaters in Palm Beach County, through the cypress dominated floodplain in the Wild & Scenic segment, into the central embayment, and finally out through Jupiter Inlet into the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf Stream. It will explore the history of the watershed, its majestic environmental value, the modifications and problems associated with ever-increasing human population and development, and programs and projects underway to help preserve and restore this valuable and unique system.

The River Center will be a combination of static displays, interactive exhibits, live tanks which will trace the river system from a freshwater cypress swamp to seagrass-dominated estuary to marine ecosystems. The center will provide an opportunity for school children, adults, visitors, and long-time residents an opportunity to learn about Florida's first federally designated Wild and Scenic River.

The River Center will host traveling exhibits in order to provide other agencies and organizations an opportunity to further educate the public about the Loxahatchee River, our valuable community asset. The Center will continue a well developed focus on school children, our leaders of tomorrow. The elementary school program and Sea Quest Summer Camp will remain as key educational venues at the Center. In addition, we will expand offerings to attract middle and high school students, special interest groups, and non-traditional and informal learning groups.

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Exhibit Floor Plan

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Exhibits/Highlights

Exhibit 1. Intro From the moment of arrival, visitors are engaged with an impressive timeline which dates back to prehistoric times and illustrates the history of the Loxahatchee River Watershed.

Exhibit 2. Donor Signage A donor signs reflects a community in support of environmental preservation and conservation.

Exhibit 3. Watershed History Impressive satellite and aerial photos lead visitors on a visual tour of the watershed over the past century.

Exhibit 4. Introduction A magnificent, seemingly real cypress tree in full glory greets visitors as they enter the exhibit rooms. Adorned with life-like wildlife, this tree of knowledge details the exhibits to come and provides an overview of the experience.

Exhibit 5. Wild and Scenic River A naturalist exhibit details three zones of the wild & scenic river - wetlands, main channel and flood plain - with vegetation and live aquatic tanks featuring indigenous reptiles and fish.

Exhibit 6. Critters Reminiscent of Trapper Nelson's Zoo, this showcase of biodiversity in the watershed features terrariums housing spiders, frogs and colorful snakes, as well as fossil cases and a magnification activity to identify the river's tiniest creatures.

Exhibit 7. The Hydrologic Cycle The constant cycling of water is represented in an entertaining interactive exhibit which allows visitors to explore and control the hydrology of the river throughout its seasonal changes.

Exhibit 8. Balancing the Water Budget This exhibit challenges the visitor to become a water resource manager. The scales of balance are never more pertinent than in this live demonstration where the hands-on task is to allocate a limited water supply to meet the competing demands of urban, agriculture and the environment.

Exhibit 9. Estuary This magnificent tank details two critical habitats - oysters and mangroves - found in the estuarine portion of the Loxahatchee River, both above and below the water.

Exhibit 10. The Mangrove A stunning 360-degree sectional of a mangrove communicates the importance of this species as a nursery for juvenile fishes, a feeding ground, and a natural shoreline stabilizer.

Exhibits 11 & 12. Water Use and Reuse Just how we obtain drinking water and what happens to our wastewater? These important questions are answered and the innovative solutions of local environmental managers are showcased.

Exhibit 13. Seagrasses Crystal clear waters reveal beautiful seagrasses, seahorses, shrimp, and juvenile fish, and impart the message that healthy seagrasses signify a healthy estuary.

Exhibit 14. Wet Table Touch Tank The strong shell of a horseshoe crab, the spongy texture of a sea cucumber, the sleek design of a skate - a supervised touch tank invites visitors to touch and hold the watershed's aquatic life.

Exhibit 15. Marine Zone Large aquaria, hydrophones, magnifying activities, interactive videos, and trivia games encourage visitors to explore the wonders of the marine environment.

Exhibit 16. Piling Tank Staged as a dock setting with a boat suspended from the ceiling and moored to a piling, this water exhibit allows an insightful glimpse at the colorful ecosystem found on a local dock.

Exhibit 17. Loxahatchee Ecosystem The culmination of these diverse habitats is a breathtaking community. A floor schematic and beautiful murals highlight the interconnected nature of the major habitats and create a sense of ownership and stewardship for this magnificent watershed.

Exhibit 18. What Can I Do? Individually and collectively we can make a difference toward the preservation and restoration of the watershed. Here, visitors are offered opportunities to participate and additional sources of information about local environmental outreach efforts.

19. Gift Shop Retail space displaying a unique selection of books, clothes, gifts, music, DVD's, toys, educational items and low-cost jewelry related to the Loxahatchee, nature or environment. The interior and exterior of the room is themed in cabin style and contains a point-of-sale area, hanging racks, display shelves, display counter, video monitor and DVD controller.

20. Multi-Function Room The Flex Space is intended as a multi-use room for classroom learning lab, local seminars, meetings, celebrations, ceremonies or exhibit openings. All the furniture and other items in the room are mobile and easily stored or relocated. An adjacent prep kitchen can be utilized to service any event.

River Center

River Center Overview | River Center Membership & Volunteer Form | River Tidings Newsletter | Kids Korner

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