Mixontown is a low-lying neighborhood near McCoy's Creek, where a multimillion-dollar restoration project aims to address flooding.
The restoration project was intended to address flooding along McCoy's Creek.
The creek’s flooding reflects a century of changes to the waterway, not just recent storms. In the 1920s, McCoys Creek was straightened into ditches and bulkhead canals; wetlands and floodplain were filled, and an 850-foot section was buried in a culvert. With less space to spread out high water, rain could push the creek into nearby streets. The restoration’s meandering channel and wetlands are meant to restore some of that lost capacity, as well as habitat. NOAA Fisheries’ history of the creek traces those changes.
What Changed Beneath the Surface
The restoration was designed to reshape the creek's channel and restore wetlands. The project is expected to deliver two feet of benefit in flood reduction.
Action News Jax has reported the city committed $105.4 million to the restoration aimed at mitigating flooding in the creek. It is one of the larger stormwater investments in the city's recent history.
The broader watershed remains a significant flood-risk area, so one storm is only an early indicator of how well the project performs. Groundwork Jacksonville says the city’s stormwater plan identifies 26 local roads that flood during a five-year storm, while 542 structures in the watershed are considered at risk. The creek is also ranked the city’s top priority for flooding, storm surge and sea-level rise in its Local Mitigation Strategy. The watershed plan’s figures show the scale of the challenge beyond this week’s rain.
A Second Phase Already Underway
The fix isn't finished. A second phase of restoration is planned for the creek's path through Brooklyn, per the same jaxdailyrecord.com report, and crews have already broken ground on a separate McCoys Creek Branches project targeting the creek's western headwaters, where stormwater first enters the system. That phase will restore nearly 4,800 linear feet of headwaters, about 15 acres of streams and wetlands, and nearly four acres of open space, according to News4JAX's earlier coverage of the groundbreaking.
The creek work is part of a wider effort that pairs public infrastructure with habitat restoration and neighborhood recreation. Groundwork Jacksonville, the nonprofit that presented its restoration plan to the city in 2018, has worked with residents on the design; NOAA Fisheries has provided technical assistance and $3 million for the project. The agency says the plan is intended to create habitat for species including red drum, Atlantic sturgeon and flounder, alongside a 30-mile Emerald Trail linking downtown neighborhoods. NOAA’s project overview describes those combined goals.
The Branches project will restore wetlands in the creek's western headwaters. Plans also call for a new pedestrian bridge, future kayak access and pedestrian-friendly pathways meant to connect with Jacksonville's Emerald Trail network.
Flooding Beyond the Creek
Flooding has affected Jacksonville streets, and drivers have attempted to cross flooded roads.
