FRQ #1: Do you believe that the Everglades Restoration Project will help endangered species in the park?
In your response briefly discuss:
a. The main goal of the project and the project's status.
b. The major characteristics of the ecosystem.
c. Relationship of 2 or more endangered species to water restoration in the park.
d. An educational, legislative, and a technical fix being implemented.
e. Your views on the the subject.
Resources:
Gore and the Everglades at http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1033198
Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan at http://www.evergladesplan.org/index.aspx
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The main goal of the Everglades Restoration Project is to restore, protect, and reserve the waters of southern and central Florida, which includes the Everglades. The Everglades belongs to an estuary ecosystem characterized by salt water meeting fresh water in an enclosed body of water. Flat plains and a grassy rivers characterize the Everglades with a wet and dry season. In brackish water the salinity usually ranges from 0.5-35 ppt. Some endangered species that have a relationship with the Everglades are the manatee and the American Crocodile. These species depend on the Everglades for an uninterrupted habitat, which is being interrupted by human activities such as boating. Barriers that have been put up by human's have caused habitat fragmentation and have restricted the movement of many fish and other species. An educational fix being implemented for the Everglades Restoration Project is teaching people the devastation they are causing to the Everglades and its animals. A technological fix being implemented is putting in levee-seepage management technology across from the Everglades National Park. The legislative fix implemented was the "Water Resources Development Acts" which gave the Army Corp of Engineers the authority to evalutate the actions and plans of the C&SF and make any improvements or changes to the project to make it the best possible way to restore the Everglades. Four pilot projects and ten initial projects will be started. My opinion on this whole situation is that the plan is a good idea because the Everglades are one of the most beautiful and important places for the environment of central and southern Florida. The only problem is that the project is supposed to take over 30 years to construct and will cost about 7.8 billion dollars. Thirty years may be too long of a time period if we are going to try to save the Everglades in their entirety.
The main goal of this ecosystem is to provide a sustainable solution for both the people and the organisms in the Everglades National Park. Right now there are many endangered species that occupy this park, and there are many humans around that are in need of more and more water. The Everglades ecosystem is an estuary, which means that salt water from the ocean meets fresh water from a lake or pond, this is called brackish water. It is a low, flat plain shaped by the action of water and weather. In the summer, which is the wet season the estuary is a wide, grassy river. In the winter season the edge of the slough is dry grasslands. In the dry months of December to April the water level gradually drops. There are many endangered species that inhabit this park, two of which are the panther and green turtle (Chelonia mydas). These animals are having a hard time surviving because of the 1,700 miles of canals and levees that are disrupting and breaking up the ecosystem. As the population of people grow in southern florid there is a growing need for water. Canals, levees, and other man made structures were built to try and tame the water. Connecting the habitats will help save the animals because it will improve their range and prey-base and provide for a more natural balance of species within the system. These species are vulnerable to extinction if their specialized habitats are altered, which is currently being done. An education fix would be to educate people on how to use alternate ways of collecting and controlling water for their city. The Water Resources Development Act of 1996 was a legislative fix that authorized the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to develop the Comprehensive Plan and requires that it be submitted to Congress by July 1, 1999. Also authorizes the Critical Projects Program at a maximum federal cost of $75 million. The act was re-done in the years 1999 and 2000. A technological advancement would be to find a way through the use of technology to distribute water to a city without wasting it and letting it flow back into the ocean. This whole project is a huge endeavor that will take a long time and large sums of money. It will also do great things to help a number of species that are becoming endangered, and also help to distribute and collect water for southern Florida. Although it may not help in the near future, this project will really benefit in the end and I definitely think they should go through with it.
The main goal of the Everglades Restoration project is to restore this environment and make it sustainable in order to renew the damaged ecosystem as well as to aid the economy. It also would provide flood protection, water supply, and water management to southern Florida. The major characteristics of this estuary ecosystem are that it extends over a vast area with a lot of biodiversity, it’s a water-driven ecosystem, and is very flat with grassy water. Two endangered species directly affected by the Everglades are the wood stork and the leatherback turtle. The wood stork is a large, wading bird that locates food by using its bill to feel around for fish in shallow, fresh-water areas. But it is now difficult for it to find food due to the extreme drying in these areas. The leatherback turtle is very large and feeds on things like jellyfish, but they have been declining due to the ingestion of plastic bags and people collecting their eggs. This plan will help these animals by restoring fresh water, where the wood stock can find food, and in turn decreasing the amount of pollution, so the turtle won’t ingest plastic bags. An educational fix being implemented is providing information on the internet about many of the declining species so that people will support this project. A legislative fix is the Water Resources Development Act of 1999 which authorized Everglade ecosystem restoration. A technical fix is the technology that is used to lower the phosphorous in the water. I believe that this restoration project will not only help the endangered species, but the people and economy as well. However, as with everything, it has its negative aspects, which are mainly time and money. But I think the great results will outweigh the negative aspects.
The main goal of the Everglades Restoration Project is to restore , protect and preserve the water resources of central and southern Florida and the Everglades and to aid the economy. Not only this but provide a sufficient water supply, water management and flood protection for Florida. The thought was to take away all the levies and dams that once diverted water for farming and to reestablish the fresh-water cycle for the Everglades. This free flowing River of Grass consists of flat plains that have a wet and dry season which account for the immense amount of diversity within the ecosystem. The American Crocodile and the Wood Stork are directly affected by human activities in their habitat such as boating and fishing and negligence of Americans. The interruption of the species habitat has scientists worried. The low level of fresh water makes it hard for the crocodile and the Wood Stork to find food and to stay alive in the once sustainable ecosystem. The information that can be found on the internet today about the loss of life in the everglades will help let people see the effect that this plan will have on the ecosystem. The Water Resources Development Act of 1999 authorized and allowed the plan to restore the everglades. And the advancement of wastewater treatment will help determine what water can be reused for ecological restoration. I believe that this plan will have a great impact on the Everglades ecosystem and help the Everglades become sustainable once more. Although the amount of money and time and energy that will be put into this plan will be great, the overall impact for the ecosystem will be much greater and outweigh the "negative" aspects.
The main goal of the Everglades Restoration Project is to “capture fresh water that now flows unused to the ocean and the gulf and redirect it to areas that need it most.” Estuaries are dominated by water level and the amount of salt in the water; this changes because estuaries are constantly receiving salt from the ocean tides. Two endangered species are the West Indian Manatee and the Cape Sable Seaside Sparrow. The survival of the manatees is primarily determined by the temperature of the water; they cannot survive in temperatures below 17 degrees Celsius. Therefore, manatees typically migrate to warm springs. If there is not enough water flowing out of the Everglades, then the manatees will not be able to sustain comfortable habitats at the base of the estuaries. The Cape Sable Seaside Sparrow is actually only lives in the Everglades ecosystem; its diet is limited to vegetation that has been burned or flooded. The more water in the estuaries increases the chance of flood, providing greater amount of food for the sparrow. The Water Resources Development Act of 2000 was signed by the president of the U.S. This act ensures that the water will be savored adequately, following a particular list of laws. I definitely support the Everglades Restoration Project; water is not an unlimited resource, and we therefore must savor it.
The main goal of the Everglades Restoration Project is to “protect and preserve the water sources of central and southern Florida, including the Everglades” by using water that flows directly to the gulf in areas where water is needed. The Everglades was once called the “River of Grass” because water was unseen at most parts due to the sawgrass growing all around. The Everglades are a large estuary stretching from Orlando, Florida all the way to Florida Bay and the coral reefs. The Everglades have a lot of biodiversity due to the amount of land it covers. This land provides a habitat for numerous endangered species including the American Crocodile and the Wood Stork. Both of these animals earned a spot on the endangered species list due to urbanization. As people moved in they brought their pollutants, and cries for flood control with them. The pollutants find their way to the water trough the soil and air causing an unlivable habitat for many animals and the dams and levees that were built keep water from flowing freely through the Everglades, cutting off habitats. Many websites offer an educational approach to the Everglades problem by posting current updates and situation occurring in the area. A legislative approach came in 1999 when the Water Resources Development Act was passed. This act approved the CERP project to restore the Everglades, but does not provide the funds. Tons of new technology is being used in the Everglades Restoration Program, such as the equipment used to treat the waters of the Everglades and the wastewaters surrounding the area. I for one think that if this plan is implemented correctly that it would be great for the environment and the animals that call the Everglades home.
The Everglades Restoration Plan is striving to restore, protect, and reserve the water resources of central and southern Florida, including the everglades. The everglades are an estuary ecosystem made up of subtropical marshlands. This area receives between 40 and 65 inches of rain annually and is divided into two seasons, wet and dry. The dry season occurs between December and April. At this time most fish migrate to the deep pools of the everglades, where alligators and birds feed on them. The wet season is characterized by thunderstorms, as well as the return of thriving wildlife. The most well known endangered species of the everglades are the American Crocodile and the West Indian manatee. The habitats of these animals are disrupted by human activities such as the expansions of cities and the building of infrastructure. As humans take over these areas, little thought is given to how these animals will survive without adequate habitats. Another huge problem for these animals is the establishment of dams. These dams tend to trap and harm or kill manatees. Humans have taken steps toward reserving the everglades and the wildlife surrounding. One legislative fix is Water Resource Development Act of 2000. This act was signed by the president, which approved the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Program. This act also authorized the construction of four pilot projects, as well as ten initial projects. I believe that the everglades are very important for many reasons and should be preserved. If the everglades are destroyed we could lose a number of endangered animal species, as well as plant species. It will take more than a handful of people to keep the everglades alive, society just needs to be educated!
The goal of the Everglades restoration project is to restore the waters of Southern Florida. This would also supply a sufficient water supply. The Everglades ecosystem is a estuary system. In this system the saltwater meets fresh water in an closed body of water, this is called brackish water. It is low, shaped by the water and weather. The Everglades have a lot of biodiversity due to the amount of land it covers. All of this land provides homes for numerous endangered species. These animals include the wood stork and the manatee. These species need an undisturbed habitat, but this is not possible because of human activities such as pollution. Like trash in the rivers and lakes. Things like this are breaking up the ecosystem these animals are living in. This plan will help these animals by restoring fresh water, where the wood stork can find food, and in turn decreasing the amount of pollution.The low level of fresh water makes it hard for the manatee and the Wood Stork to find food and to stay alive in the once sustainable ecosystem.
The once beautiful and free flowing river of grass that provided water to Southern Florida is being diminished. So the Everglades Restoration Project was implemented to protect, restore, and reserve the Everglades in Southern and Central Florida and to provide an adequate water supply along with managing and protecting the water. The Everglades Restoration Project's main goal is to forward the water flowing to the ocean and gulf to areas of need, while the majority of the water will be used to re-establish the weakening ecosystem. Restoring the water quality and reviving the ecosystem is giving the Everglades endangered species a better chance of survival, three of these species include the American crocodile, the West Indian manatee, and the wood stork. These species have been threatened with extinction do to overdevelopment and pollution, with cities and big business expanding everyday and pollution from sugar farms degrading their habitat, without intervention soon there will be nothing left. Some educational measures taken to fix the problem in the Everglades include updates of the programs progress posted on the Internet, such as the Florida Bay Education Project, which allow tells people how they can lend a helping hand. The passing of numerous acts to prevent further damage to the Everglades is the legislative approach to this problem. Some of these acts include Florida Land Conservation Act in 1972, which authorizes Florida to purchase environmentally endangered lands, and the Water Resources Development Act, which allows improvements to be made to the restoration project. One technical fix being implemented are the various chemical treatments used to lower the high toxin levels in the water. Overall, I believe that the Everglades Restoration Project
will be very successful as long as it is implemented correctly and backed by the nation accordingly.
The main goal of the Everglades restoration project is creating a plan to restore, protect, and preserve the water resources of central and southern Florida. By doing this, hopefully, this creates economic benefits, to prevent flooding, provide clean and reliable water supplies, resulting in a successful project for the southern Florida. The land characteristics of the Everglade is variable, includes fresh water marshes, wetland tree islands, pine land, mangroves, swamps, and coastal marine water. There is a tremendous amount of biodiversity that are endangered in the Everglades. The American Crocodile and Florida panther are one of the known endangered species around the southern Florida area. These species are adapted to the wetland area, so if there are any changes within the ecosystem, this affect there way of living. The ecosystem provide food, water, and place for the endangered species, therefore restoring the Everglades can provide the needs and want for Everglade's plant and animals. The Everglades project provides study of the project to create an educational benefit for others. The idea of C&SF Project Comprehensive Review Study is to reconsider the C&SF Project to establish the possibility of continue changing the project to improve the sustainability of South Florida. Scientist is using new technology to restore the water of the Everglades. For example, Everglades Nutrient Removal Project provides nutrient such and nitrogen and phosphorus, by building 43,000 acres of artificial wetlands to the south and east of the EAA, the predominant areas of flow. Water Resources Development Act of 1996 is one of the legislative implemented provides, this will help restore the water of the Everglades. The everglades project had advantages and disadvantages, by restoring water for the Everglades can benefits the ecosystem, by providing for the species, plants, and people of the Everglades.
I wanted to thank everyone for posting their responses to the Everglades Restoration question. It is important to remember that one of the major focuses of environmental science is how humans use and disrupt the natural flow of matter and energy. In most cases, the disruptions result from a rising human population in a specific area. In the case of the Everglades, an increase in population in South Florida has caused the extensive building of levees to irrigate crops and to provide drinking water to a growing population. South Florida was one of the fastest growing areas outside of Phoenix over the past couple of years. This takes away water needed by the organisms that inhabit the Everglades. AP questions attempt to test a reader’s ability to identify the key problem surrounding an issue, to report historical facts, to develop a plan to gather data, such as through experimentation, to provide specific examples of data that would be gained from a particular experiment, to provide a method to analyze the results of an experiment, and to propose a plan of action through legislation, education or the implementation of new technology. Can you provide a suggestion to improve another student's response?
The Everglades Restoration Project main goal is to restore and preserve the natural enviroment that was once sustainable. Teams are coming together to help enhance water supplies and maintain flood protection. These places in southern and central Florida have begun to be restored when the plan was approved by the Water Resources Development Act of 2000. It has been about 7 years since this plan took place, but has it helped at all? or do we know? There goal has been to attain as much fresh water as possible and redirect it to the most needed areas. This will greatly help out the ecosystem, and most likely save it. Any remaining water will be used to aid farmers and enhance water supplies for southern Florida.
I do believe the Everglades restoration plan will help endangered species in the park because the Everglades restoration project represents what the SFWMD and other agencies involved hope to be a total integration of BMPs such as this drought management plan. The accumulation of past effects and a desire to remedy the problems created by these effects resulted in Governor Chiles’ Everglades Forever Act (1994). This piece of legislation authorized the initiation of a major project, referred to as the Everglades Construction Project, to “clean and restore the Everglades Protection Area.” Overall, this single project developed into 55 subprojects installed by the SFWMD the Florida Department of Environmental Protection with the help of the Corps of Engineers. (Hinrichsen) While some of these projects are relatively small in scale, some require extensive research, years of planning, and a huge budget before they can be implemented in their entirety.
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