A $250,000 study has begun to find a use for the 37 million gallons of muck in the St. Lucie River. Muck removal and prevention has long been part of the Everglades restoration project. The muck which is churned up by waves and boat traffic, hinders the growth of sea grasses keeping sunlight from penetrating to the riverbed. The St. Lucie River Initiative plans to dredge 2,000 cubic yards of muck from the south fork of the river to create a cone-shaped ditch about 160 feet wide at the top. "That might capture the loose, fluffy stuff and sink it down below where the waves can move it." Kevin Henderson of the St. Lucie River Initiative said. The muck will be spread on pastures to see how it affects pasture grass, used in wetland creation to see whether it would quicken the process, and used to help stabilize soil for road construction.