EvergladesEvergladesBy: Briana BetressBy: Briana Betress

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

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

Some Facts• Sometimes called the River of Grass

• Everglades National Park covers 20% of the original land

• Water is used for Miami’s 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

Flora

Scorpion's Tail

Climbing aster Sixangle Foldwing

Beggarticks False Foxglove

Fireflag

Flora II

Wetland Fireflag,

Arrowroot

White Fragrant Water Lily Spike Rush

SawgrassMahogany

Fireflag

Willow

Fauna

West Indian Manatee

White-tailed Deer

Racoon

Great Blue Heron

Florida PantherGreat Egret

Brown Pelican

Black-necked Stilt

Fauna II

Everglades Crayfish

Green Tree Frog

Dragonfly

Florida Cooter

American Alligator

Flagfish

Southern Cricket Frog

Everglades Ratsnake

Threats

• Water Control– Drainage canals– Pumping stations

• Introduced, Exotic, and Invasive Species– Mayan Cichlid,

Melaleuca tree, Burmese Python

• Development– Urbanization,

Agriculture, Industry• Drought• Fires

Introduced, Exotics, and Invasives

Mayan Cichlid

Melaleuca Tree

Water Hyacinth

Brazilian Holly

Burmese Python

Problems

• 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

Conservation

•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.

Any Questions?Any Questions?

References

• http://evergladesplan.org/about

• http://www.sfwmd.gov/org/wrp/wrp_evg/2_wrp_evg_info/photos_exotic.html

• Mitsch W. and Gosselink J. Wetlands. 2000 John Wiley & Sons Inc.