Fruit Farm Creek Mangrove Restoration

The Fruit Farm Creek Mangrove Restoration Project is located along San Marco Road approximately one mile west of the town of Goodland on Marco Island, Florida. The project site is part of one of the largest mangrove forests in Florida and is managed by the Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve. Since 2010, our team has worked with Rookery Bay NERR, local government agencies, non-governmental organizations, and the public to develop plans to restore 64 acres of collapsed mangrove forest and enhance another 159 acres of surrounding stressed mangrove. The first phase of the project was completed in 2012. The remaining phases of work include installing new culvert systems under San Marco Road and clearing blocked tidal creeks of debris south of the road to improve the hydrological connections and restore mangrove habitat. Construction is expected to be completed in 2022.