The natural Everglades originally spanned vast areas
between the eastern and western coastal ridges from Lake
Okeechobee through the interior of Southern Florida and
opened into Florida Bay and the Gulf Coast estuaries.
Although most urban development has been concen-
trated along the upland ridges, since the early 1900s this
ecosystem has undergone extensive habitat loss and deg-
radation as a result of major hydrological and other physi-
cal alterations designed to accommodate human activi-
ties. The cumulative pressures of rapid population
growth along the southeastern coast of Florida and the
conversion of wetlands to agricultural lands in the north-
ern and southeastern reaches of the ecosystem have de-


graded the remaining Ever-
glades and surrounding pro-
tected wetland and upland ar-
eas.

Today, only half of the natural
Everglades remains and a
mere 20 percent of the original
ecosystem falls within the
boundaries of the Everglades
Biosphere Reserve, which con-
stitutes our nation's most en-
dangered national park. Some
large-scale approaches to man-
agement of the ecosystem
have been undertaken, espe-
cially focused on nutrients and
endangered species, but the
fundamental loss of habitat
and water remains to be con-
fronted.


The environment of South
Florida has much more water
on an average annual basis
than is required to support all
anticipated urban, agricultural,
and ecological needs.
However, under the present
water management system,
the major portion of
freshwater is lost to the sea,
creating competition among
users. The ultimate issue is
not competing water needs
but the storage and wise
management of this
renewable resource.