St. Lucie County is working with consultant Johnson, Mirmiran & Thompson, Inc. to design and plan for the revitalization and restoration of an impaired oxbow along Ten-Mile Creek, located in the northern portion of the George Lestrange Preserve. Area residents and stakeholders are invited to attend a meeting about the project on Wednesday, Sept. 20 at 6 p.m. at the Richard E Becker Preserve, located at 3398 Selvitz Road. 

The George Lestrange Preserve is a 94-acre site that includes a one-mile hiking trail surrounding a 37-acre "catch-and-release" lake. Located at 4911 Ralls Road, the Lestrange Preserve is adjacent to Ten-Mile Creek, which is part of the north fork of the St. Lucie River. Historical straightening and channelization of Ten Mile Creek for expansion of navigation, agriculture and flood control blocked historic oxbows from the main river course.  Oxbows are natural bends/curves along an estuary that help slow down the flow of water. St. Lucie County’s Public Works staff aims to restore the ecological functions of native wetlands within the oxbow and enhance recreational and educational opportunities within the preserve.

St. Lucie County continues to work on developing water quality projects such as oxbow restorations, which will play key roles in helping the county reach its goals for meeting the state’s Basin Management Action Plan requirements.

The Sept. 20 meeting will be an informative meeting to discuss project goals and objectives, as well as provide a venue for public comment and input. Public comments can be provided at the meeting, via email (Frankling@stlucieco.org) or by calling St. Lucie County Project Manager Gary Franklin at 772-462-1192.