1. The Florida Everglades – America’s Rhine? I.Historical water flow and landscape features II.A century of engineering modifications: 1880 - 1980 III.Changes in flow and associated environmental problems IV.Overview of the current “Restoration Plan” (CERP) V.CERP constraints and uncertainties Web site for additional info: www.evergladesplan.org

2. Sawgrass plains Ridge and slough/ tree islands Kissimmee River The Historical Everglades

3. Marl prairie Hardwood hammocks The Historical Everglades Pine forest

4. The Historical Everglades Florida Bay Mangrove swamps

6. 1845 Florida admitted into the Union as the 27th state. 1847-48 Engineer Buckingham Smith hired to examine and survey the South Florida wilderness, reporting on its value and feasibility for reclamation to Congress. 1850 U.S. Congress grants swamp lands to Florida for the purpose of drainage and reclamation. Events during early statehood 1855-58 Third Seminole War 1861-65 Civil War 1860's-1870's Railroad and canal companies face financial ruin with devaluation of confederate currency. 1881 Philadelphia millionaire Hamilton Disston negotiates to drain lands overflowed by Lake Okeechobee and the Kissimmee River in exchange for one-half the reclaimed land. http://everglades.fiu.edu/reclaim/timeline/index.htm

7. New York Times, February 18, 1881: “The reclamation of 12,000,000 acres of land, or one-third of the States of the Union, has been undertaken by a company of Philadelphia gentleman with every prospect of success...The project of reclaiming this wonderfully rich country has been talked of for years, and it has long been considered feasible by many noted engineers...The leading man in this enterprise is Hamilton Disston, a young gentleman of great business energy and ample fortune, and present head of the great saw- manufacturing firm of Henry Disston & Sons.” Drainage History

8. FIRST LARGE SCALE DRAINAGE EFFORT IN SOUTH FLORIDA HAMILTON DISSTON CONSTRUCTION1881-1894 CHANNEL DREDGING AND STRAIGHTENING NEW CHANNEL CONSTRUCTION

9. EVERGLADES DRAINAGE DISTRICT WORKS 1905-1928 CALOOSAHATCHEE RIVER DREDGED ST. LUCIE CANAL CONSTRUCTED 1916 TO 1928 AGRICULTURAL CANALS DREDGED Drainage History (continued)

10. “River of grass” replaced (now) by sugar cane fields* and “water conservation areas” * Sugar cane is profitable to grow in Florida primarily due to the US trade embargo on Cuba

11. Fort Lauderdale, 1926Belle Glade, 1928 Deadly hurricanes in 1926 and 1928 caused flooding of Lake Okeechobee

12. HERBERT HOOVER DIKE1932-1938 Drainage History (continued)

13. AREAS FLOODED IN 1947 IN 1947 Drainage History (continued)

14. CENTRAL & SOUTHERN FLORIDA (C&SF) PROJECT 1,000 miles of canals 720 miles of levees ~200 water control structures The 1950s – 1980s

15. Continued Channelization of the Lower Kissimmee River in the 1960s Straightened channel with remnant meander that is now cut off from main flow Lock and dam structure

16. Continued Expansion of Agriculture and Urban Areas Dramatic Change in Flows

17. Too dry in Everglades National Park Too wet in the water conservation areas Loss of tree islands Loss of wading and water birds Environmental Consequences

18. Land subsidence and loss of peat soil http://pubs.usgs.gov/circ/circ1182/pdf/12Everglades.pdf ft above sea level

19. Brazilian pepper is an aggressive non-native plant. It grows as a shrub or small tree, is related to poison ivy and can grow between 10 and 40 feet tall. Its growth is dense so it prevents the growth of other vegetation. Other Indicators of Ecosystem Problems 68 plant and animal species are threatened or endangered Over 1.5 million acres infested with invasive, exotic plants

20. Approved in the Water Resources Development Act of 2000 Includes more than 60 elements Will take more than 30 years to construct Will cost an estimated $7.8 billion The 1990s: Planning for the “CERP”

21. Constraints Urban Water Supply and Flood Control Lake Okeechobee AgricultureInvasive SpeciesWater Quality

24. Surface Water Storage Reservoirs Aquifer Storage Recovery Stormwater Treatment Areas Reuse Wastewater Seepage Management Removing Barriers to Sheetflow Operational Changes to Structures Principal Features and Uncertainties

25. Aquifer Storage Recovery (ASR) Idealized System

26. Existing ASR Wells in Florida (from USGS WRI Report 02-4036)

27. CERP ASRs will include over 300 wells each with a capacity of 5 million gallons per day Major Questions Effects on regional groundwater flow and pressures below confining unit Efficiency of recovery after long storage periods Variations in Permeability Aquifer Flow

28. Additional Questions Fate of potential contaminants (e.g. microbes, mercury, nutrients) that are present in source water Geochemical and biogeochemical reactions due to mixing and water rock interactions

29. Most Important Question Will recovered water be of suitable quality for the ecosystem? “Pilot” projects to address these questions

30. But Well designed pilot projects will require 5-10 years to yield results Hydrogeologic conditions may limit storage options Need for contingency planning now

31. If there is not enough water (or water storage) to satisfy all needs, what are the options? A.Accept increased flood risk in urban areas B.Condemn sugar holdings in the Everglades Agricultural Area to provide more land for surface reservoirs C.Restrictions on public water supply D.Allow increased fluctuations in Lake Okeechobee water levels (affecting fishing, boating and waterfowl hunting, as well as water supply for surrounding communities) E.Provide less water to Everglades National Park than that required for habitat improvement