Water Management in the Everglades

This topic submitted by Lindsey Jaros ( Jarosla@muohio.edu) at 9:54 PM on 4/15/09.

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In my paper IÕm going to focus on what the everglades are and how this ecosystem has changed over time. The Everglades are an important ecosystem to the state of Florida and they have contributed to the agriculture and water needs for Florida. Because of they are such an important ecosystem the water of the everglades has been rerouted by building canals, levees and water control structures. This has caused over 50% of the original ecosystem to be destroyed. As a result of this much of the wild-life has been reduced and the quality of water has decreased. Today there is a government funded plan that is being enacted to restore the everglades and help change the management of the water of the everglades. IÕm going to go over how the water management of the everglades has changed over time and the new goals for this ecosystem.


I. What are the Everglades?
a. Flow from Lake Okeechobee to the Florida Bay
b. ÒRiver of GrassÓ
II. Importance of the Everglades
a. Habitat for many species of animals
b. Flood Control
c. Water purification
III. Early water management of the Everglades
a. Central and Southern Florida Project
i. Authorized in 1948
ii. purposes of flood control, water level control, water conservation, preservation of fish and wildlife.
b. Construction of canals and levees to reroute water of the everglades
i. Population was growing so water was needed throughout southern Florida
ii. Prevention of flooding
iii. Enable agricultural development
IV. Consequences of early water management
a. Over 50% of the ecosystem was destroyed
b. Decrease in water quality
c. The amount of species of plants and animals greatly decreased
d. Nutrient loading- Phosphorus from agriculture
i. Caused algal blooms
e. Changed quantity and timing of water flow
V. TodayÕs restoration plan- Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan
a. Discuss reasons and goals for implanting such a large plan
i. Restore ecosystem and all animal and plant species
ii. Preserve, protect and restore the water of southern florida
b. $8 billion over the next 20 years

Sources:
Anderson, D.L., Flaig, E.G. Agricultural Best Management Practices and Surface Water Improvement and Management. Wat. Sci. Tech. 1995. 31(8), 109-121.
Boucher, A.B. etal. Best Management Practices for Water Quality Improvement in the Lake Okeechobee Watershed. Ecological Engineering. 1995. 5(2-3), 341-356
Chimney, M.J., Goforth, F. History and Description of the Everglades Nutrient Removal Project, a Sutbropical Constructed Wetland in South Florida. Ecological Engineering. 27(4), 268-278.
Havens, K., N. Aumen. Forum Hypothesis-Driven Experimental Research Is Necessary for Natural Resource Management. Environmental Management. 2000. 25:1-7
Sklar, F.H. etal (2001). SOUTH FLORIDA: THE REALITY OF CHANGE AND THE PROSPECTS FOR SUSTAINABILITY: The design of ecological landscape models for Everglades restoration. Ecological Economics. 37(3), 379-401
Walters, C (1992). Experimental Policies for Water Management in the Everglades. Ecological Applications. 2(2), 189-202.


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