Energy for the Environment

Originally, before people started crowding in Florida and sugar cane farmers started farming, the water from Lake Okeechobee and Kissimmee River would flow down to the Everglades and FL Bay, hydrating the ecosystems with fresh, non-polluted water. Now, Lake Okeechobee is primarily where the flow is disrupted. Historically, every wet season, the water would spill over Lake Okeechobee and flood the surrounding land, spreading the water to the Everglades in a “sheet flow”. However, in the 1920s, a dike was built around the Lake. Also to control flooding in the 1930s, the water was diverted to the east and west of the Lake instead of down South. The building of highways further diverted the flow. All this proves that there is not ENOUGH water going to the Everglades and FL Bay, but the water that IS going can be polluted with pesticides and fertilizers from the sugar cane farmers. All in all, the lack of good water flowing leads to seagrass die-offs, algae blooms, salty water in FL bay, and a drier Everglades (not at all how it was supposed to be). The restored flow plan Florida is putting into action will help Florida’s prevalent fishing/outdoor economy, ensure safe and plentiful drinking water for millions of people, and preserve Florida’s unique ecosystem and plant/animal species.

 Overall, building my model, learning about the ecosystems of the Everglades and Florida Bay, and running through the salinity demonstration taught me how incredibly unique Florida’s ecosystems are, and the importance of the Congress- approved Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP). Researching this topic demonstrated to me the fragility of a unique ecosystem like the Everglades and all the things that could affect the wildlife and water quality. Salty water leads to algae blooms– but so does nutrient/phosphorus pollution from sugar cane farmers in the Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA). While the EAA is ideal for its rich soil, and certainly farmers have reduced their pollutants and are involved in Everglades Restoration, it does not change the damage done from nutrient-polluted water being pumped directly into Lake Okeechobee in the 20th century. In less than a year in 1990, poor water quality caused seagrass die-offs spanning 65,000 acres, and in its place grew 650 square miles of toxic algae blooms. The seagrass die-offs lead to lack of food or shelter for animals of all shape or form- from manatees to birds to alligators to fish. In addition, the harmful algae blooms lead to sudden fish and wildlife kills. The CERP strives to reconnect animals with their source of food, fresh water, and shelter in order for this distinctive ecosystem to thrive. My project showed the major differences in the water quality with the current flow and the restored flow outlined in the CERP.

My data