Preserve Florida Bay?
IT’S NOT THAT
COMPLICATED
Everglades Restoration
Historicaly
The Everglades covered 3 million acres, extending from just south of Orlando through the Kissimee River Valley to Lake Okeechobee and south to the tip of the Florida peninsula as well as extending east and west.
A natural sheet flow of fresh water moved through this vast expanse creating a pattern of wet and dry seasons allowing myriad species to flourish with an unparalleled diversity.
POPULATION GROWTH
With population growth, as well as pressure from agricultural and business interests, the State drained lands by diverting waters through manmade canals, pump stations, water control points and damns. Re-plumbing the natural sheet flow of a 3 million acre area to accommodate for population and agricultural growth, while retaining a healthy eco system could have been a modern miracle, if it had worked.
THE FIX
Limited public outcry has had the effect of forcing policymakers to create legislation to “fix” the hydrology of the state. Although the historic sheet flow will never be recreated, policy-makers have recognized the economic and environmental degradation caused by the hydrology, and agree that minimum efforts must be made to preserve the estuaries, rivers, and Florida Bay. However agreement on policy is only the first step in the solution to the problem.
Current legislation, CERP (Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Project) and CEPP (Central Everglades Planning Project), are in place and with completion, promise to resuscitate the Everglades. Implementation of the projects that affect the Florida Bay is imperative to maintain the health of the Florida Keys economy.
TODAY
Political Will