Lake link boatlift planned

Project would connect to Intracoastal

A plan to link the Intracoastal Waterway with a landlocked string of lakes could open the floodgates for fun and economic opportunity in Palm Beach County, officials say.

The plan calls for building a boatlift that would open access from the Intracoastal to the Chain of Lakes, a network of lakes spanning Delray Beach to West Palm Beach.

The number of cities supporting the project has ballooned to 16 in recent weeks.

Boaters, kayakers, paddleboarders and other outdoor enthusiasts would be able to trek between the Intracoastal’s saltwater and the lakes’ freshwater ecosystems. And businesses along the water, such as hotels and restaurants, could see more customers.

Dean Ernst, 38, who owns PaddleAway Sports, a paddleboarding and kayak rental company in Boynton Beach, said a new passageway could mean lots more sightseeing on the water.

“In the canals and the lakes, you’ll see alligators and snakes hanging out on the banks or sometimes swimming in the water,” Ernst said. In the Intracoastal, “you’re bound to see sea turtles, manatees, sometimes a dolphin or stingray or a shark. It’s a different world.”

About 80 percent of registered boats in the county are the right size to use the boatlift, which would be situated at Spillway Park, on a canal that divides Lake Worth from West Palm Beach. The boats can be no longer than 23.5 feet, and no more than 5.5 feet above the waterline.

In addition to the boatlift, a pier would be built. That would let those with canoes, kayaks and paddleboards walk between both waterways. The pier will also accommodate anglers,