The Loxahatchee River District created Project RiverKeeper in 1973 to focus on water quality monitoring within the Loxahatchee River watershed. Data obtained through this program help water managers to evaluate and document the condition and ecological health of the river and to determine the location and extent of water quality issues that require attention. These reports provide our most recent characterization of water quality in our river and with some historical perspective.

Seagrasses are recognized as one of the most important habitats within the Loxahatchee River estuary and the Indian River Lagoon. Seagrasses play a critical role in providing sediment stabilization, nutrient cycling, detridal food sources, and nursery grounds for many recreational and commercially important fisheries. The main objective of this work is to document the density, distribution and species composition of seagrasses found within the Loxahatchee River and the southernmost portion of the Indian River Lagoon. This work is instrumental for environmental management efforts, such as the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Program. These reports document the spatial and temporal variation of the seagrass in the Loxahatchee River Estuary and the distribution of seagrass species mapped with landscape scale monitoring.

Oyster reefs provide important benefits to the overall health of the Loxahatchee River by cleaning water, stabilizing shorelines and providing essential fish habitat. Oyster reefs have declined in the river due to a lack of hard surfaces where oyster larvae can attach. The Loxahatchee River District and their partners are working together to restore and conduct research on the oyster reefs in the Loxahatchee River. This restoration and research shows that oysters provide remarkable habitat that is home to a variety of fish, crabs, shrimp and other valuable species, while providing new areas for larval oysters to grow.

Event Sampling - Stormwater Monitoring

Automated water samplers are used to document nutrient loading to the system following storm events. These autosamplers begin monitoring water quality based on the occurrence of a storm event, and collect water samples every four hours. These samples are analyzed WildPine Ecological Laboratory for the following water quality parameters: turbidity, color, ortho-P, total phosphorus, total suspended solids, alkalinity, total kjeldahl nitrogen, ammonia and nitrate/nitrite. These reports summarize the short-term effects of rainfall events and associated increased discharge on water quality into Loxahatchee River. The results illustrate how stormwater runoff affects water quality differently among locations in the Loxahatchee watershed. Reports: 2007-2008 Water Quality Event Sampling (File Type: PDF, File Size: 900 KB) Loxahatchee River Water Quality Event Sampling (2006) (File Type: PDF, File Size: 1.3 MB) Data: Stormwater Master Data Set (coming soon)

Macroinvertebrates

River and Watershed Management

Restoration Plan for the Northwest Fork of the Loxahatchee River The unique ecosystem of the Northwest Fork of the Loxahatchee River, with its quiet beauty, has captured the attention and imagination of residents and visitors, agency and community leaders for many years. Consisting of 9.5 miles of federally-designated Wild and Scenic River, it provides essential habitats that support a wide spectrum of ecological resources including freshwater riverine floodplain vegetation such as bald cypress, freshwater and estuarine fishes, and tidal floodplain vegetation such as mangroves, oysters and seagrasses. This restoration plan is the result of a successful partnership between the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD), the Florida Department of Environmental Protection Southeast District Office (DEP-SED), the Florida Park Service-District 5 office (FPS-District 5), and the Loxahatchee River Environmental Control District (LRD). 2011 Addendum to the Restoration Plan for the Northwest Fork of the Loxahatchee River (File Type: PDF, File Size: 16.3 MB) Loxahatchee River National Wild and Scenic River Management Plan (File Type: PDF, File Size: 5.4 MB) 2006 Restoration Plan for the Northwest Fork of the Loxahatchee River (File Type: PDF, File Size: 28.9 MB) Other Reports: Freshwater Flow Requirements and Management Goals for the Northwest Fork of the Loxahatchee River (1997) (File Type: DOC, File Size: 4.7 MB) | View as PDF Rainfall Observations in the Loxahatchee River Watershed (1997) (File Type: DOC, File Size: 2.7 MB) | View as PDF Research Bilbiolography: Loxahatchee River Bibliography (File Type: PDF, File Size: 220 KB) Loxahatchee River Bibliography (File Type: MDB, File Size: 350 KB) | MS Access Instructions

Lionfish are beautiful predatory fish, with unusual coloration and venomous spines, which are native to the Indo-Pacific. They were recently introduced to the western Atlantic waters and Caribbean where their populations are exploding. Because lionfish are voracious predators, and our native fish do not seem to recognize the newcomer as a predator, research suggests that they could have a serious impact on our ecology. Recently, our research partners from Florida International University have discovered lionfish in the Loxahatchee River estuary. This first documentation of lionfish in an estuarine system, is especially concerning because estuaries are already threatened and provide critical habitat for a myriad of species. This groundbreaking research by the scientists at Florida International University is helping us gain a better understand lionfish in the Loxahatchee, and our region.