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Everglades Restoration
The Everglades ecosystem spans 18,000 square miles, extending from north of the Kissimmee River Chain of Lakes in central Florida all the way south to the Florida Keys and the Florida Bay. This natural ecosystem has been severely degraded by numerous impacts over several decades, including flood control and water supply distribution systems, as well as growth, development and agriculture.
In 2000, Florida and the federal government entered into a 50/50 partnership to restore the Everglades, known as the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP), which is the largest environmental restoration project in the nation’s history. The 30-year plan will improve the health of the remaining Everglades by restoring wetlands, improving the quality, quantity, timing and distribution of water to the natural system. The plan will also re-establish habitats for the hundreds of species of plants and animals that make this diverse ecosystem their home, including more than 60 threatened and endangered species.
Why Is This Important?
Although still beautiful, the entire south Florida ecosystem is in jeopardy. Today, approximately 70 percent less water flows through the Everglades than in the past. The quality of the water has also been degraded. Florida is using innovative “green” technology, as well as improved farming practices, to reduce the amount of excessive phosphorous (a pollutant/nutrient that occurs both naturally and from runoff from both agricultural and development practices) in the water.
In addition, the health of Lake Okeechobee, the second largest freshwater lake in the Unites States, is seriously threatened. Clean water is also needed to feed the estuaries and bays that are critical to fish and wildlife. Water shortages and water restrictions are now a way of life in many parts of Florida, and the Everglades restoration plan will help address all of these issues.
How Is Florida Doing?
An essential component of the restoration efforts is land acquisition. Land is needed for water storage reservoirs and water preserve areas to restore natural hydrology. The State has acquired more than 60 percent of the land needed to implement the restoration plan. In addition, Florida has initiated a program to step up the pace of funding, design and construction of seventeen critical Everglades restoration projects.Florida’s investment of approximately $2.4 billion in CERP to date, as well as an additional $1.8 billion to improve the quality of the water flowing to the ecosystem, demonstrates the state’s unwavering commitment to restoration.
Scorecard
What Influences Everglades Restoration?
Restoration efforts are dependent on the acquisition of sufficient land to implement critical projects needed to improve quality, quantity, timing and distribution of water flows in south Florida. The availability of funding and time primarily influence restoration efforts such as land acquisition and project construction.
In November 2007, after a long delay, the United States Congress approved the Water Resource Development Act 2007, which provides previously agreed upon federal funding for restoring the River of Grass. Additionally, the federal Recovery and Investment Act appropriated funds for several restoration projects.
What Is the State's Role?
Since 1994, the Florida Legislature has adopted a series of vital and complex programs to address various aspects of restoring the south Florida ecosystem, in addition to exceeding the requirements of the state under the CERP partnership. Ten years into the 30-year plan, Florida has acquired more than 60 percent of the land needed to complete the CERP. The state has also initiated construction on many critical fast-tracked projects.
br />In 2007, Florida expanded its efforts to the Northern Everglades by enacting legislation that formally recognized that improvement to the hydrology and water quality of the Caloosahatchee and St. Lucie River watersheds is essential to the protection of the greater Everglades ecosystem. The addition of the Northern Everglades and Estuaries Protection Program recognizes the importance and connectivity of the entire Everglades ecosystem, both north and south of Lake Okeechobee.
In June 2008, Governor Charlie Crist announced the opportunity for Florida to acquire vast tracts of land in the Everglades Agricultural Area. After gathering key input from the public, legislators and South Florida communities, and recognizing the nation’s current economic climate, Governor Crist shared details of a revised strategy to achieve this historic acquisition. The revised approach incorporates today’s fiscal realities by saving $800 million at closing, providing ready access to strategically located acreage for restoration projects and preserving thousands of jobs, while still allowing the state to acquire 73,000 acres that will allow the River of Grass to be “replumbed” in ways never before thought possible.
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