What Happened to the Everglades? Human Impacts and the Road to Restoration
Human activity has transformed Florida’s Everglades—discover the history, consequences, and ongoing restoration challenges of this unique wetland.
The Everglades, once a vast and vibrant subtropical wetland stretching across two million acres in south Florida, have undergone immense changes over the past two centuries. From its intricate web of marshes and prairies to its battered and fragmented state today, the story of the Everglades is one of dazzling ecological wealth, dramatic environmental degradation, and an ongoing struggle for recovery. This article traces the history of the Everglades, the forces that reshaped it, the ecological consequences, and the prospects for restoration.
Understanding the Everglades: Nature’s River of Grass
Before drainage and development, the Greater Everglades covered approximately 4,000 square miles of southern Florida, consisting of broad wetlands and diverse interconnected habitats. During the wet season, water from Lake Okeechobee would slowly spill southward, forming what Marjory Stoneman Douglas memorably called a “river of grass.” This shallow, slow-moving river meandered through:
- Sawgrass marshes
- Cypress swamps
- Wet prairies
- Mangrove forests
This complex mosaic supported immense biodiversity and performed crucial hydrological functions such as flood control, water purification, and groundwater recharge.
The Earliest Impacts: Indigenous and Early Settler Interactions
Native Americans have lived in South Florida for millennia, shaping the landscape through practices like controlled burning and limited agriculture. However, these alterations were relatively subtle and sustained the region’s ecological integrity. The arrival of European settlers in the 1800s began a process of change that would eventually pose existential threats to the Everglades.
Draining the Swamp: The Push for Development
In the late 19th century, developers, inspired by a vision of using the “useless swampland” for profit, began earnest efforts to drain the Everglades:
- Initial proposals for drainage appeared in 1848; major canal construction began in 1882.
- Early canal projects sought to redirect water from wetlands, opening land for agriculture and towns.
- Plantations and sugarcane fields replaced marshes, while railroads and highways (driven by entrepreneurs such as Henry Flagler) opened the region for large-scale settlement and speculation.
The Explosion of Development in the 20th Century
By the early 1900s, Florida was experiencing a population and real estate boom. Infrastructure expansion gathered pace with more canals, roads, and levees cutting across the landscape. Highlights include:
- Congressional Initiatives: In 1947, the Central and Southern Florida Flood Control Project was launched.
- 1,400 miles of canals, levees, and water-control devices were built to protect urban and agricultural lands, provide water, and prevent flooding.
- Major cities such as Miami and Fort Lauderdale grew rapidly as water was diverted for human use.
- Mangroves and other native vegetation were removed from shorelines to offer ocean views and make way for palm trees and other landscaping.
This period saw approximately 50% of the original Everglades converted to farmland or urban space.
How the Everglades Functioned—and Why They Changed
The ecological health of the Everglades rests on three main factors:
- Water Flow: Water, flowing naturally from north to south, distributes essential nutrients, supports plant and animal communities, and keeps saltwater at bay.
- Fire: Periodic, low-intensity wildfires clear out dense vegetation and maintain open marshes.
- Landscape Subtlety: Minor changes in elevation—mere inches—determine which plant communities can thrive.
Development disrupted all of these factors:
- Canals and levees compartmentalized the landscape, rapidly moving water out to sea and drying out crucial habitats.
- Fire suppression and altered hydrology upset the finely balanced wet/dry cycles.
- Introduction of fertilizers and pollution from agriculture shifted water chemistry, endangering native species and encouraging invasive plants.
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Environmental Consequences: A System Under Threat
Decades of development and engineering have yielded far-reaching effects:
- Loss of Wetland Area: Half of the original wetlands are gone.
- Wildlife Decline: Populations of key species—including wading birds like egrets, herons, and ibises—have dropped by more than 90% in some regions.
- Endangered Species: The Florida panther, manatee, Cape Sable seaside sparrow, Miami blackheaded snake, and wood stork are among many species at risk of extinction.
- Invasive Species: Plants such as melaleuca, Brazilian pepper, and Australian pine have spread aggressively, outcompeting native flora.
- Water Quality Degradation: Runoff from farms has filled streams and lakes with excess nutrients, causing toxic algae blooms and die-offs. Lake Okeechobee’s poor water quality in particular sparked concern.
- Loss of Seagrass Beds: Massive die-offs in Florida Bay have led to cascading losses for fish, shrimp, sponges, and mangroves.
- Saltwater Intrusion: Reduced freshwater flow allows seawater to move inland, further threatening habitats and water supplies.
Turning Point: Growing Awareness and Conservation Efforts
By the late 20th century, the consequences of Everglades degradation became impossible to ignore. This led to:
- International Recognition: The Everglades received UNESCO World Heritage Site, Ramsar Wetland, and Biosphere Reserve status.
- Public Advocacy: Conservationists, led by figures like Marjory Stoneman Douglas, raised consciousness about the Everglades’ value and vulnerability.
- Blocking Harmful Development: For example, plans for a massive airport north of Everglades National Park were halted following an environmental review.
Restoring the River of Grass: The Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP)
In 2000, Congress approved the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP)—then the largest and most ambitious environmental restoration project in U.S. history. Core elements of the plan include:
- Replumbing water flows using modern science to mimic historical sheet flows where possible
- Restoring Lake Okeechobee’s health and reestablishing connections to natural marshes
- Removing outdated canals and levees, like the straightened Kissimmee River—one early success
- Promoting habitat restoration for endangered species
- Improving water quality by reducing nutrient pollution
Progress: While CERP and related efforts have succeeded in raising awareness and stemming the tide of destruction, actual on-the-ground restoration has faced numerous hurdles:
- Political and legal challenges
- Competing interests from agriculture, cities, and industry
- High costs and the complexity of restoring such an altered landscape
- Climate change (sea level rise, droughts) now adds new uncertainty
Some partial recoveries have taken place, but overall, the Everglades remain fragile and threatened.
Why the Everglades Still Matter
| Ecological Value | Benefits for People |
|---|---|
| Habitat for 70+ threatened/endangered species | Freshwater for 8 million Floridians |
| Nursery for fish, birds, and reptiles | Tourism and recreation (fishing, birding, boating) |
| Buffer against extreme weather/sea level rise | Flood control and storm surge protection |
| Carbon storage (peat soils) | Attracts scientific research and education |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: Why were the Everglades drained in the first place?
A: Early settlers considered wetlands unproductive and sought to convert them into farmland and real estate. Large-scale drainage projects reflected a lack of understanding of wetland values.
Q: How much of the Everglades has been lost?
A: Over 50% of the historic wetland area has been converted to other uses, primarily agriculture and urban development.
Q: What wildlife is most affected?
A: Wading birds (like herons and ibises), the Florida panther, manatees, and various endangered reptiles and fish are among the most affected due to habitat loss and degraded water quality.
Q: Is restoration possible?
A: While true historical conditions are unlikely to be fully restored, ongoing projects aim to reestablish some natural water flows, improve habitat quality, and support imperiled species. Much depends on continued funding, policy support, and adaptation to climate change.
Q: Why should people outside Florida care about the Everglades?
A: The Everglades are a globally significant wetland, crucial for biodiversity, carbon storage, hurricane protection, and as a water resource for millions. They serve as a case study in the consequences and challenges of large-scale environmental engineering.
Conclusion: Lessons and Hope for the Future
The Everglades story is not simply one of loss, but also of hope and determination. Restoration efforts, though slow and fraught with difficulty, represent a global model for ecosystem recovery. They also remind us of the value—and vulnerability—of wetlands everywhere. Understanding what happened to the Everglades is essential for anyone concerned with the intersection of human ambition and the limits of nature. With committed stewardship, innovative science, and broad public engagement, a healthier future for Florida’s river of grass remains within reach.
References
- https://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/1995/0171/
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Everglades
- https://www.nps.gov/ever/learn/historyculture/developeverglades.htm
- https://www.nwf.org/Educational-Resources/Wildlife-Guide/Wild-Places/Everglades
- https://evergladeslaw.org/everglades-timeline/
- https://myfwc.com/recreation/lead/everglades/history/
- https://www.nps.gov/ever/learn/historyculture/development.htm
- https://conservancy.org/everglades-restoration/
- https://www.epa.gov/climateimpacts/climate-change-connections-florida-everglades
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