An Islamorada canal once marred by poor water quality and no coral or plant growth is improving, thanks to a completed restoration project.
With council approval in 2023, a $1.3 million canal backfilling project by Tavernier-based Adventure Environmental Inc. began in canal 116, located on Plantation Key between Plantation and Ocean Drives. The canal was plagued by poor water quality, very low oxygen levels and high turbidity. The canal’s bottom had virtually no growth of any plant or coral.
By January 2024, the project to refill parts of the canal to cultivate improved circulation and oxygenation was completed; a monitoring effort began to assess improvements. Results revealed that it doesn’t take long for plants to colonize once the oxygen levels improve. By reducing the depth of the canal through backfilling and eliminating the anoxic zone that existed, a life-giving environment was created, said Peter Frezza, environmental resources manager.
In less than a year, monitoring results showed that seagrass and important macroalgae carpeted about 50% of the bottom of the canal, and dissolved oxygen levels had increased significantly. Both shoal grass and turtle grass and six different species of macroalgae had colonized the bottom.
Ten different fish species were also observed. Starlet coral was also observed growing. This was a complete turnaround in canal life and an excellent indication that overall water quality conditions in the canal had improved tremendously.
Frezza said village consultants will continue to monitor conditions on the bottom of the canal on a biannual basis.
“This is a success for both wildlife dependent on the habitat and for residents along the canal,” Frezza said. “We planned the project, implemented it as planned, monitored the results to make sure that our strategies are producing the intended outcomes, and our future actions continue to be informed by the learnings from this and other important projects.
“By applying the Plan-Do-Check-Act method for project development and implementation, we maximize positive outcomes while honoring both our environmental and fiscal stewardship responsibilities,” Frezza continued.
