Habitat Restoration Offers Opportunity to Explore Island Wilds

Wetland restoration in the Historic Virginia Key Beach Park includes construction of boardwalks. 

Extensive environmental restoration of natural areas on Virginia Key is set to begin anew under a federally funded program that has already re-sculpted the island to restore wetlands, dunes and hammock habitat in a 95-acre stretch of the island. 

The aim of the project,  which began in 2002, is to enhance local fish and wildlife resources as it restores the rich biological diversity of the various native habitats on the island.  

One side-benefit:  accessibility.  Where the restoration has been completed, you’ll find scenic trails, wooden bridges and boardwalks that carry you to the heart of wilderness areas. 

Re-sculpting the land includes opening up waterways in the interior of the island. 

Mangrove wetlands, fresh and brackish water ponds, wetlands, hardwood hammocks and coastal strands are part of the restoration.

In the areas where native species have been reestablished or enhanced, you can already see an increase in the numbers of wading birds such as herons and ibis. Migratory birds, including warblers, buntings, vireo and cardinals are seen as well as rare migratory and wintering bird species, including the least tern, great white heron, lesser black-backed gull, peregrine falcon, merlin and brown pelican. The beach areas provide foraging and leafing habitat for shorebirds and nesting habitat for sea turtles.

The multi-million dollar federally-funded program authorized under a section of the Water Resource Development Act of 1986 is directed by the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers in partnership with the City of Miami. 

Though the heavy-lifting -- carving out lakes, rebuilding dunes -- has been carried out by professional crews, a lot of the planting has been done by volunteers painstakingly digging and replanting flowering plants, native grasses and trees. 

Volunteers with Urban Paradise Guild plant native grasses. 

“It’s very important to get the community involved,” said restoration specialist Gary Milano,  the biologist with the Miami-Dade Department of Environmental Resources Management who has been directing the restoration effort. “The stewardship component is critical to the project’s success.” 

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