Everglades

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Everglades

• By Briana Betress

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Location

• Southern tip of Florida, from Lake Okeechobee
  southward to the Florida Bay
• Has an area of 34,000 km2
• About half of the area has been lost to
  agriculture/urbanization

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History

• 1841-1856 US forces explored the everglades to
  drive out the Seminoles
• 1850 the Swamp and Overflow Act turned over the
  area to the government
• 1881-1905 a series of canals were dug
• The now drained area was found to be very fertile
  and suitable for agriculture

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Some Facts

• Sometimes called the River of Grass
• Everglades National Park covers 20 of the
  original land
• Water is used for Miamis water supply as well as
  other surrounding regions
• There are several small outlets including Miami
  River, New River, and Shark River
• It has a subtropical climate with annual rhythms
  of drought, flood, and fire
• Only place in the world where alligators and
  crocodiles exist together

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Flora
Scorpion's Tail
Beggarticks
False Foxglove
Fireflag
Climbing aster
Sixangle Foldwing
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Flora II
Wetland Fireflag, Arrowroot
Fireflag
Sawgrass
Mahogany
Spike Rush
Willow
White Fragrant Water Lily
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Fauna
West Indian Manatee
Brown Pelican
Great Blue Heron
White-tailed Deer
Black-necked Stilt
Florida Panther
Racoon
Great Egret
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Fauna II
Everglades Crayfish
Dragonfly
Flagfish
Green Tree Frog
Southern Cricket Frog
American Alligator
Everglades Ratsnake
Florida Cooter
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Threats

• Water Control
• Drainage canals
• Pumping stations
• Introduced, Exotic, and Invasive Species
• Mayan Cichlid, Melaleuca tree, Burmese Python
• Development
• Urbanization, Agriculture, Industry
• Drought
• Fires

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Introduced, Exotics, and Invasives
Burmese Python
Melaleuca Tree
Water Hyacinth
Mayan Cichlid
Brazilian Holly
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Problems
Conservation

• 90-95 wading bird population reduction
• 68 plant and animal species endangered or
  threatened
• 1.5 million acres infested with invasive and
  exotic species
• 1.7 billion gallons of discharge into the
  Atlantic Ocean and Gulf of Mexico
• Saltwater intrusion
• Over 1 million acres under health advisories for
  mercury

• Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP)
• It will take more than 30 years and 7.8 billion
  dollars
• The plan is to capture discharged water before
  going to ocean and reroute it, first, to
  deficient areas and then agricultural areas.

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Any Questions?
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References

• http//evergladesplan.org/about
• http//www.sfwmd.gov/org/wrp/wrp_evg/2_wrp_evg_inf
  o/photos_exotic.html
• Mitsch W. and Gosselink J. Wetlands. 2000 John
  Wiley Sons Inc.