History of Everglades Water Management: Crises and Reconfiguration.
From RAWorkbook
Historical profiles of social-ecological systems can be useful in identifying how resilience has changed over time. Regime shifts in the ecological components may be viewed as environmental crises. Such crises and other unexpected ecological events can result in dramatic changes in management. The history of water management in the Florida Everglades during the 20th century can demonstrate such dynamics. During this time at least four management regimes or eras can be identified. In the case of the Everglades, changes in management regimes can be attributed to specific events; some reflected unforeseen variation in larger scale processes (e.g. flood, storm, and drought). In other cases, environmental crises associated with ecological regime shifts also triggered major changes in management, and the creation of new eras.
Four management eras in the Florida Everglades.
Initial Drainage Era (1900-1947) – Cut and try. Following a flood in 1903, canals were built to drain the wetland. This was soon followed by yet more canals to provide further drainage. In 1926 and 1928 hurricanes devastated human developments along the east coast and south of Lake Okeechobee. Earthen dams around the lake were breached during the hurricane of 1928, resulting in extensive flooding and the loss of about 2400 lives. In response to this crisis, the federal government funded the construction of the Hoover Dike around Lake Okeechobee to contain floodwaters. This era was labeled ‘Cut and Try’ reflecting the cutting of canals into the land and attempts to drain what was perceived as excess water.
Flood Control Era (1947-1971) – Turning green lines into red. Following a massive flood in 1947, which overwhelmed all of the previous canal systems, the state and federal governments built a large public works project to control floods. A series of levees, canals, pumps, and new management institutions were constructed to enable economic and agricultural development in previously wet areas of the wetland. The era is called ‘turning green lines to red’ because the plans identified new structures as green, then were colored red after construction.
Water Supply Era (1972-1983) – No easy answers. The combination of 70 years of draining the wetlands, a drought, and a growing population led to concerns over water supply. Changes in water management rules called for water conservation as well as flood protection. The state created a new system-wide management agency (The South Florida Water Management District).
Environmental Restoration Era (1984 to Present) – Repairing the Everglades. A series of environmental crises (algae blooms, unwanted vegetation changes and continuing decline in wading bird populations) in the early 1980’s led to the current era - Repairing the Everglades. This era is characterized by attempts to restore ecological attributes of the system such as wading bird nesting populations, aquatic communities, and landscape vegetation patterns. The current restoration plan has a budget of 8 billion US$ and is attempting to recreate a more natural hydrologic regime and to clean polluted water while maintaining current land uses of agriculture and urban development.
