Jones Pier area along Jungle Trail in Indian River County to become a 'living shoreline'

Janet Begley

Special to TCPALM

INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — About 120 feet along the banks of the Indian River near the Jones Pier Conservation Area will become a "living shoreline."

A $27,300 grant from the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission will pay for the project.

A living shoreline uses native vegetation such as tall grasses and coquina shells to provide valuable habitats for plants and animals, helping improve water quality along the Indian River Lagoon.

More:Indian River historians want to preserve Jones homestead

Old construction debris, including concrete slabs and pylons, will be removed to make way for a new living shoreline between the Jones Pier Conservation area and a smaller pier just to the north along the Jungle Trail in Indian River County. A $27,300 grant from the Florida Fish & Wildlife Commission will aid in the shoreline improvements.

Indian River county bought the 16½-acre conservation area in 2008 for $6.8 million. It's now undergoing a facelift. The property once was the homestead for the pioneer Jones family, some of whom lived on the property along Jungle Trail for more than 115 years.

The shoreline currently is strewn with old construction debris that needs to be removed before new grasses and vegetation can be planted, explained to Beth Powell, county assistant director of parks and conservation resources.

The area is located between the large and small docks along Jungle Trail.

“It’s a bit of a cleanup project,” Powell said. “There are some larger pieces of concrete and some smaller pieces of rubble that will have to come out before we can restore the shoreline to what it once was.”

Much of debris accumulated throughout the years during various construction projects at the homestead.

More: 9 ways to experience Old Florida on the Treasure Coast

About 120-feet of the Indian River Lagoon shoreline from the Jones Pier Conservation area north to a smaller pier will become a living shoreline thanks to a new grant from the Florida Fish & Wildlife Commission. Currently, the section of shoreline is littered with old construction debris and needs to be removed before new grass and vegetation can be planted.

“Mr. Jones was an eclectic person,” said Powell. “And unfortunately, there are a lot of things along the shoreline that really shouldn’t be there so they will be removed.”

The living shoreline will serve as a demonstration point for environmental-education programs where visitors can see what the banks of the river looked like during the last century.

“This will be a great opportunity for people to stand on the small observation deck on the river and learn how important a living shoreline is to the health of the lagoon,” she said.

Other improvements at the Jones Pier Conservation Area are continuing according to schedule, Powell said.

Amenities including restrooms, a pavilion, trails and parking; development of a classroom for use by local schools and organizations; restoration of wetlands and native uplands; and establishing community gardens at the rear of the property.

The project will be completed in stages as more grant funding becomes available, she said.