Clam Bayou Restoration,
from front

at Clam Bayou and discussed the progress.
At the North Pond, heavy equipment continued digging out the pond in hopes that it will divert stormwater runoff away from the Bayou and into the pond, assisting in cleaning it of contaminants before the water enters Clam Bayou’s estuarine system.
King said the District’s plans for enlarging the North Pond involve removing what it deems invasive vegetation and replanting the non-invasive vegetation.
“They are reusing some of the plants that they can. They have a whole line of full-grown palms that they moved. They’re trying not to destroy anything,” she said, crediting Janie Hagberg for preserving the trees.
“The way Janie drew her ponds, she actually drew her ponds around some of the trees they wanted to save,” Ms. King added.
While touring Clam Bayou, she said she was amazed at the vast scope of the project. “We talk about it being three retention ponds, but it is so much more than that, it really is,” Councilwoman King said. “The thoughtfulness of nature taken to insure a project that not only captures and cleans stormwater runoff but also provides habitat for bird, fish and mammals- including us. When the project is complete kayakers will be able to travel to almost all of the preserve.”
The tour was also a learning experience for her, the councilwoman said as she explained that two freshwater ponds would provide food for birds not quite old enough to eat food that comes from saltwater.
Along the tour, Ms. King said she witnessed life existing in tandem with the backhoes and other machines.
“I saw blue crabs in there and little tiny fish… it was amazing to me. We saw osprey hunting, tri-color herons, great blues, and ibis on this trip,” she said. As she reviewed the list of creatures seen on the tour, an immature black-crowned night heron perched on a remaining tree limb above the dry pond.
In determining how to try and fix the damage to the Bayou, King said the District opted to use a baseline from 90 years ago.
“In spite of things that were done to the bayou in the 50s and 60s, this project brings it back as close as possible to what nature intended. This project uses the 1920s as a baseline, which enables the project to be more natural than using any time after,” she explained.
At this point, the councilwoman said, the city has the chance to address other stormwater issues.
“We have an opportunity with them, at this point, to resurrect the other stormwater project. If they do that project there’s a couple of other things that they want to address in Clam Bayou,” including adding baffle boxes or something similar in two areas by 29th Avenue and 45th Street, where the roads drain directly into Clam Bayou. If SWFWMD can resurrect the 49th Street project, they will add that in, she said.
If all those things happen, the District “will have done everything they can to restore that Bayou,” according to the councilwoman.
For more information and updates on the Clam Bayou restoration, please visit swfwmd.state.fl.us/projects/clambayou. Future updates on the restoration will detail other areas of the bayou.
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Contact Cathy Salustri at
CathySalustri@theGabber.com