The Everglades have suffered significant degradation since the construction of a highway linking Tampa and Miami in 1928. This highway disrupted the natural flow of water that used to meander through prairies and marshes. Efforts are underway to restore water flow to crucial areas like Shark River Slough, located deep in the Everglades National Park. This highway elevation project is part of a larger state-federal initiative, which received bipartisan funding approval in 2000, striving to reverse the damage done to these vital wetlands.
Eve Samples, executive director of Friends of the Everglades, emphasizes the importance of this restoration project, calling it the most extensive and challenging ecosystem restoration effort globally. After more than 20 years of work, there are promising developments: wildlife populations are showing signs of recovery, the invasive melaleuca tree has seen a 75% decline in some areas, and funding for significant projects is increasing. However, concerns remain since many projects are significantly over budget, leading to questions about their overall viability.
The Everglades once occupied an area nearly twice the size of New Jersey, but now only about half remains. This unique ecosystem shelters endangered species and acts as a critical source of drinking water for millions of Floridians. Historical engineering projects have severely fragmented the region, draining natural water flows from the Kissimmee River to Lake Okeechobee and Florida Bay. Added challenges come from invasive species and pollution, particularly phosphorus, which have degraded water quality.
Restoration costs are projected to exceed $23 billion, with completion expected to take up to 50 years. While water quality has seen improvements, ongoing issues such as saltwater intrusion, sea-level rise, and elevated temperatures continue to present formidable challenges. Since 2019, 70 projects have been established or celebrated, and lawmakers have allocated $1.275 billion for further restoration in the coming fiscal year, the largest single-year commitment to date.
Northwest of Miami, large machinery is transforming sugarcane fields into a reservoir designed to deliver clean freshwater to the Everglades as part of the $3.9 billion Everglades Agricultural Area Reservoir Project. Once completed, this reservoir will cover 10,500 acres and will have the potential to provide water for between 480,000 to 720,000 homes. Adjacent wetlands will aid in cleaning polluted water from Lake Okeechobee before it flows into the Everglades.
Although both President Joe Biden and Governor Ron DeSantis have declared the reservoir a priority, it remains a contentious issue. The reservoir has been scaled down considerably due to space constraints, and there are ongoing debates about its potential effectiveness. Critics worry it might not be sizable enough to adequately filter water.
On a particularly hot May morning, Kominoski and research specialist Rafael Travieso were assessing water chemistry, focusing on phosphorus levels. While some increases in phosphorus are noted with higher water flows, the overall water quality shows improvements, which is a significant development considering the longstanding challenges posed by phosphorus pollution. However, downstream measurements indicate rising salinity levels, hinting at worsening saltwater intrusion linked to climate change and sea-level rise.
South Florida, with its low elevation, faces increased flooding risks due to storms and projected sea-level elevations reaching up to 4 feet by 2100. Experts have highlighted the difficulties of integrating climate change considerations into restoration plans and suggest establishing unified climate scenarios for better strategy development.
The future health of the Everglades also hinges on the resilience of crucial coastal ecosystems like mangroves, which are migrating inland due to sea-level rise. Rising seas threaten to overwhelm these trees, causing potential wetland loss, according to research student Kevin Montenegro. Additionally, saltwater intrusion poses significant risks to biodiversity, drinking water sources, and peat soils that store carbon.
Florida’s rapid population growth complicates the restoration effort, with development pressures mounting on low-lying agricultural lands between the Everglades and nearby parks. Samples underscored this issue, emphasizing that population growth and development are intense threats to the Everglades’ survival.
Using an airboat, Kominoski and Travieso navigated the waters of Shark River Slough, observing alligators and various bird species throughout their journey. They celebrated signs of recovery in wildlife populations, including the wood stork and flourishing wading birds in floodplains. Recent projects aimed at managing Lake Okeechobee’s water levels are expected to provide additional benefits for the Everglades restoration initiative. However, patches of blue-green algae on Lake Okeechobee reveal persistent problems related to water pollution and rising temperatures.
For indigenous groups like the Miccosukee Tribe, the impacts of sea-level rise are tangible. Activist Betty Osceola noted that flooding and water mismanagement have devastated their cultural landscapes. The tribe has long advocated for the Western Everglades Restoration Project, which recently saw the initiation of important features aimed at improving water quality and distribution.
As the Everglades’ future hangs in the balance, conservationists stress the importance of sustained efforts to protect both wildlife and essential water resources. Samples echoed the sentiments of famed conservationist Marjory Stoneman Douglas, asserting that preserving the Everglades is crucial for resilience against climate change. “It’s about passing the test of preservation, as we face pressing development pressures and climate-related challenges,” she remarked.