A discussion of the Everglades and the problem of water management.
This paper provides a brief insight into the Everglades, a unique ecosystem that enables people to live and do business in South Florida. It is the source of drinking water for the area’s five million people and sustains a productive agricultural industry. It describes how water management is one of the most severe environmental issues facing the Everglades today due to population growth in the area and how drainage projects and development have negatively influenced the systems water quality and biodiversity. It discusses the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan that has been created as a solution to the problem of water with a complex network of reservoirs, treatment areas and recovery wells.
The first water management activities of humans were designed to drain the Everglades and exploit the natural resources of rich soils and tropical climate for agricultural development. Years later, the canal system was improved for navigational use to move products to coastal markets. Humans created canals, pump stations, and structures to provide water supply to coastal areas, and flood protection for agricultural development. Over the years, management priorities of this system have evolved, with an emphasis on flood control during hurricane years, water supply during droughts and, more recently, environmental protection of Everglades’ natural resources.