Boating & Fishing

Artificial Islands of ‘Bonefish Cove’ in ICW Taking Shape, Completion Expected Next Winter

The Bonefish Cove project, an ambitious project to construct two artificial islands in the Intracoastal Waterway south of the Lake Worth Bridge near Hypoluxo Island, is about 65 percent complete.

by
Daniel Nee
August 4, 2025

The Bonefish Cove project, an ambitious undertaking by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to construct two artificial islands in the Intracoastal Waterway south of the Lake Worth Bridge near Hypoluxo Island, is about 65 percent complete, with work now focusing on the full completion of the northern island.

The northern island of Bonefish Cove under construction in Palm Beach County’s portion of the ICW, Aug. 2025. (Photo: Boca Daily News)

Located south of the bridge off the east side of the navigational channel, Bonefish Cove is continuing to receive daily deliveries of sand by barge, hauled to the location from Peanut Island, the popular recreational anchorage inside Lake Worth/Palm Beach Inlet. Each afternoon, tugboats push and pull the barges up and down the ICW, where the sand is removed by heavy equipment and placed within containment booms to form new land. The two islands will ultimately become habitat for numerous species – especially attractive to native birds – with each island featuring a bird nesting mound, multiple oyster reefs, a submerged seagrass shelf and red mangrove habitat.

The area between the north and south sections is being left open in its existing state. Plans initially called for a third island to be constructed, but the project was scaled back after an outcry from boaters on Hypoluxo Island, with concerns that they would lose access to the ICW.

The northern island of Bonefish Cove under construction in Palm Beach County’s portion of the ICW, Aug. 2025. (Photo: Boca Daily News)

The work on the project has recently shifted primarily to the northern island, which is nearing full completion. That island, as seen in aerial photography and from vessels passing by, has largely taken its final shape, with crews now focusing on completing its rip-rap border which will serve as a breakwater. The contractor, according to Palm Beach County officials, will now be delivering the last amount of sand needed to finish forming the submerged seagrass shelf and oyster reef areas at the bottom tip of the northern island. They have staged the limestone rock to finish building the remaining wavebreak around the island, and continue building the oyster reefs to the south.

Work on the southern island has not been completely paused, but has slowed as more efforts have been put into completing the northern island. The contractor has temporarily stopped delivering and stockpiling sand to this section of the project and is concentrating on finishing up the north island. Once crews finish work the northern island, they will repeat the process to the south.

The southern island of Bonefish Cove under construction in Palm Beach County’s portion of the ICW, Aug. 2025. (Photo: Boca Daily News)

The northern island of Bonefish Cove under construction in Palm Beach County’s portion of the ICW, Aug. 2025. (Photo: Boca Daily News)

The project’s overall completion date is estimated to occur around the start of 2026.

“The project is 65 percent complete, and based on the current production rates, the contract is expected to be completed by January/February 2026, provided no further delays are encountered,” said John Paul Rebello, spokesman for the Army Corps’ Jacksonville District, which is managing the project.