The Corbett to Loxahatchee Refuge Greenway Connector is a proposed corridor connecting
the JW Corbett Wildlife Management Area to the Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee
National Wildlife Refuge along the western side of the L-8 canal. The corridor
width will vary depending on the location along the canal. The Southern portion
of the greenway is in negotiations between the County and the South Florida Water
Management District (SFWMD), because this portion was a requirement of previous
development approvals from the County for the Palm Beach Aggregates rock mines.
When the SFWMD bought the rock pits for water storage, they assumed the obligations
of the development order.
The active portion of the Corbett to Loxahatchee Refuge Greenway Connector
is the northern portion of the greenway and is located approximately 3 miles
north of SR-80 along the SFWMD L-8 canal. The project area is located on the
western right of way (ROW) for the L-8 canal and extends for 2.5 miles to the
north. ERM obtained a linear park use permit and a planting permit from the
SFWMD in April 2006 and has since begun to plant native vegetation within the
permitted portions of the ROW. A large percentage of the native plant material
is and will be salvaged plants from various projects within the county as provided
by ERM’s Upland/Wetland Protection program. The eventual plan for the
Corbett to Loxahatchee Refuge Greenway Connector will be to have a fully restored
and functional habitat corridor for native species along with a multi-use trail
for recreational use.