Everglades Problems and Solutions
Everglades is a natural tropical wetlands region in Florida, the southern state of America. It consists of an extensive drainage basin within the realm of neotropical. The ecosystem of the Everglades does not exist anywhere else in the world. Although there are other landscapes in the United States, none is as iconic to its home state as the Everglades. Florida’s Everglades can be compared with the Finger Lakes of New York, or the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. Even though the Everglades is entirely contained in Florida, its significance resonates beyond the sunshine state. Therefore, the Everglades is an important feature that belongs to the entire country of America. With now fifty percent of its initial size, the Florida Everglades is plagued by nutrient pollution and encroaching development. It is also riddled with invasive plant and animal species. There are so many problems associated with the ecosystem, which are caused by both natural and artificial factors. Similarly, the Everglades experiences serious problems, which, if not mitigated, may eventually cause a total extinction of the ecosystem. The two major threats in the Everglades are water quality/quantity, and invasion by the dangerous Burmese Pythons.
With the expansion of the agriculture industry and the rapid developments at both coasts, the demand for water is ever-increasing, but its supply is still constant. This issue has caused a decrease in the quantity of water on Everglades, and hence degradation of the ecosystem. The structures for water control that were constructed during the 20th century interfered with the natural flow of water to Florida Bay from Lake Okeechobee (Gonzalez 621). Currently, the water is flowing through dams, canals, and locks, into the ocean to curb flooding during heavy rain periods. These water control structures have reduced the amount of water reaching the Everglades. The little water that enters the Everglades comprises of runoff nutrients and is often polluted. The low water quality here originates from agricultural fertilizers and other contaminants from the expanding urban centers. These pollutants alter the growth of vegetation cover and are harmful to the native animal and plant species.
As a solution to the issue of low water quality in the Everglades, the water management district of south Florida has embarked on a project of removing excessive nutrients and pollutants in the ecosystem. The state is also trying to prevent these pollutants from entering the region any more (Oliver). This will only be achieved if the government builds Stormwater Treatment Areas, adopting best practices for managing urban and agriculture runoff water. The problem of water quality may be solved by constructing groundwater or surface water storage systems for seasonal surpluses of water. The state/federal legislation is responsible for providing solutions for the water issues at the Everglades.
The Everglades of Florida has also been dealing with the threat of wild invasive species like the Burmese pythons. These pythons are invading the ecosystems, killing most of the native animal species. The native wildlife in the Everglades is under the threat of pythons, whose primary goal is to kill all the populations. This threat can eventually cause a total extinction of some animal species, which is against the efforts put in place to ensure the thriving of the Everglades and its native animals. These Burmese pythons start by killing small animals like rabbits, rats, and raccoons. In an article by Sartore, there are about 100,000 pythons in the Everglades. Most of them came from pets that were illegally released into the wetlands by the owners as they grew too dangerous and too big. With a single Burmese python weighing about 200 pounds, their strength is a massive threat to other living organisms. This problem has become an area of concern for the efforts of preserving historic wetlands in the world. Experts have identified the Burmese pythons as the most abundant invasive species in Florida that have inflicted destruction on the natural environment.
Efforts for combating the issue of Burmese pythons include having authorized contractors to hunt and kill these predators (Dessu 170). Besides, due to the growing concern over this problem, the legislative of Florida should take precautions to manage these invading species. Although it is not easy to eliminate all the python species at once, the government and citizens as well should do everything possible to protect their native species. Everglades Holiday Park homes most of the native wild animals, and the workers are closely monitoring the threat of pythons and engaging in efforts by the government to diminish these dangerous species.
In conclusion, natural ecosystems are the backbone of the economy. The Everglades is the most significant ecosystem in Florida. With the distinction of this natural resource, something has to be done to restore it to its original condition. The restoring the Everglades into its original state is a huge undertaking, and it is a challenge that the state of Florida will continue responding. The efforts of various parties have significant positive effects on the survival of these ecosystems. If policymakers, legislators, and other stakeholders in the positive sector use available funds in their existing plans of preserving the region, they would be able to solve the riddle of restoring the Everglades.
Works Cited
Dessu, Shimelis B., et al. “Effects of sea-level rise and freshwater management on long-term water levels and water quality in the Florida Coastal Everglades.” Journal of environmental management 211 (2018): 164-176.
Gonzalez, Sergio C. “Documenting Changes in Mammal Communities in the Northern Everglades.” Southeastern Naturalist, vol. 18, no. 4, Oct. 2019, pp. 619–629. EBSCOhost, doi:10.1656/058.018.0413.
Oliver Milman. “Everglades in crisis: can this Florida treasure avert an environmental tragedy?” The Guardian. Feb 2019.
Sartore, Joel. Burmese Python. 24 Sept. 2018, www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/reptiles/b/burmese-python/.