Everglades

The Everglades system once stretched from central Florida through the Keys. A number of efforts are underway to restore that huge system and its components. The Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP), formerly known as the "Restudy" will have critical impacts across the region as well as in Monroe County. The CERP proposes to redesign the Central and South Florida (C&SF) project, which is the system of canals, levees and structures that make it possible for us to live, work and play on land that was once Everglades. Another program is designed to expedite several key projects (once called Acceler8), is a major boost for Everglades restoration, which speeds up and reaffirms the commitment of the federal/state/local partnership to revitalize the ecosystem by stepping up the pace on eight restoration projects.

When the C&SF project was first built by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and later turned over to the SFWMD for operation and maintenance in the late 1940s, it was meant to control the flood/drought cycles that plagued the residents of Florida. As part of this effort, rivers were straightened, and made deeper and wider in order to control water effectively. In providing flood control, the project was a success, allowing water managers to reroute natural water flows and discharge excess water that could cause flooding problems. Ecologically, however, the project has been far less successful. Populations of a variety of fish, birds and plants declined over time due to huge losses of water and area from their habitats as well as increasing pollution from human activities. Even migratory birds returned to the area in fewer and fewer numbers.

The CERP was commissioned to look at the environmental consequences of the original construction and to find alternatives to restore/protect some of the natural ecological systems. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the SFWMD, in partnership, are leading this effort.

How Everglades Restoration Affects the Keys: Efforts to restore the Everglades are crucial to the Keys, and to all those living in and visiting Monroe County. Why? Restoration of this sprawling system will help address the local problems and potential solutions associated with Florida Bay and the Florida Keys and also restore tidal flows between Florida Bay and the Atlantic Ocean. Regionally, the program will protect and enhance the region's water supplies, enabling us to meet the needs of today's permanent population as well the seasonal visitors to the Keys. Keys' specific projects include the Florida Keys Tidal Restoration, Florida Keys Water Quality Improvements, Florida Keys Carrying Capacity Study, and the Biscayne Bay Coastal Wetlands.

The Florida Keys Tidal Restoration project includes the use of bridges or culverts to restore the tidal connection between Florida Bay and the Atlantic Ocean in Monroe County. The four locations are as follows: (1) Tarpon Creek, just south of Mile Marker 54 on the Fat Deer Key (width 150 feet); (2) unnamed creek between Fat Deer Key and Long Point Key, south of Mile Marker 56 (width 450 feet); (3) tidal connection adjacent to Little Crawl Key (width 300 feet); and (4) tidal connection between Florida Bay and the Atlantic Ocean at Mile Marker 57 (width 2,400).

A primary goal of this project is to restore the tidal connection that was eliminated in the early 1900's during the construction of Flagler's railroad. Restoring the circulation to areas of surface water that have been impeded and stagnant for decades will significantly improve water quality, benthic floral and fauna communities, larval distribution of both recreational and commercial species (i.e. spiny lobster) and the overall hydrology of Florida Bay.

The project is estimated to cost $1,251,000, including acquisition of five acres of land in Monroe County. The project will begin early in 2001 and is expected to be completed by October 2005. Construction at the four locations planned to take place intermittently over a two year interval, from October, 2003 to October 2005.

If you want more detailed information, you can check out the CERP Home page or for just look at a summary of the history of the C&SF project. The site contains information about the history of the entire C&SF project as well as descriptions of the different models that are being used to decide how best to restore the area.

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