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Jones Creek residents press town for dredging, clearer survey standards after mangrove trimming
Summary
Multiple residents said Jones Creek trimming did not meet contract expectations, reported persistent bacteria levels and urged dredging and better baselines for completion; town staff said Loxahatchee River District drone audits show measurable improvement and staff will follow up.
Nine residents spoke during the non‑agenda public comment period about Jones Creek maintenance, contending that the biannual mangrove trimming project has not delivered the work they expected and that water-quality problems persist.
Mark Watson, long‑time resident of Jupiter River Estates, urged the council to reconsider the maintenance program’s cost and focus on dredging rather than canopy trimming: “We need to get that dredged out,” Watson said, adding that he and other retirees found the assessment burdensome. Heath Wentz, speaking for Jones Creek Restoration Group, said the town’s drone baseline did not match the project baseline and that the contractor’s work could not be objectively measured without certified as‑built drawings and established control points. Wentz also cited LRD data that he said showed bacteria levels still 3–30 times higher than thresholds that would trigger closures.
Several other speakers—Nick Scafidi, Steve Messano, Rosemary Keller and Eric Ellison—echoed concerns that the work performed was lighter than contracted and that some property owners who paid assessments saw little or no trimming. Messano and Ellison urged dredging as the only long‑term solution to improve flushing and habitat.
Town staff and the mayor responded that the project was authorized as a trimming and maintenance program, not a dredging project, and that earlier efforts to secure partners and contributions did not yield the necessary funds. The town manager said the Loxahatchee River District conducted an independent audit of drone footage and reported canopy openings and other improvements; staff promised follow-up and a report back to council.
What happens next: staff will provide a written update including the LRD findings and clarify contract scope, the role of the town arborist in trimming decisions, and the schedule for the next trimming cycle; residents requested more involvement during project planning and baseline surveying.
