Back to Everglades

Everglades Forever

Yesterday & Today

Everglades Tomorrow

Everglades the Problems

You Can Help

Helpful Resources

Everglades Tomorrow

The Everglades ecological system contributes to south

Florida' water supply, flood control, and recreation, and

serves as the habitat for an incredibly diverse variety of

animal and plant life. It is unique in the world and one of the

nation's great ecological treasures. But today this complex

ecological system is endangered as a result of adverse

changes in water quality, and in the quantity, distribution,

and timing of flows, and, therefore, must be restored and

protected.

State, federal and local governments are already pursuing

this goal (read more about this below), and every individual

can help. To understand the Everglades today, and the

impact we have individually and collectively on it, it helps to

look back, and forward in time.

The Long Term Plan

Substantial progress towards reducing phosphorus levels

discharged into the Everglades Protection Area (EPA) has

been made by the State of Florida and other stakeholders.

The combined performance of the regulatory program in the

Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA) and the stormwater

treatment areas of the Everglades Construction Project, both

mandated by Florida's Everglades Forever Act (EFA), has

exceeded expectations. In addition, some source control

measures have been implemented in urban and other

tributary basins included in the Everglades Stormwater

Program. Nonetheless, additional measures are necessary to

ensure that all discharges to the EPA meet water quality

standards and the goals established in the EFA, including

compliance with the phosphorus criterion established in Rule

62-302.540, F.A.C.

Everglades Protection Area Tributary Basins - Long Term Plan

for Achieving Water Quality Goals [PDF]

More on the Long Term Plan

Water Supply Planning

• Lower East Coast

Everglades Tomorrow http://www.sfwmd.gov/portal/page/portal/pg_grp_sfwmd_koe/pg_sfwmd...

1 of 2 12/9/2011 11:51 AM
A State-Federal Everglades Partnership

The Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP) is the

framework and guide for the restoration, protection and

preservation of the South Florida ecosystem. The goal of the

CERP is to restore the quantity, quality, timing and

distribution of water to the Everglades ecosystem. The Plan

also provides for other water-related needs of the region such

as water supply and flood protection. It includes over fifty

projects that involve either structural or operational changes

to modify the Central and Southern Florida Project to achieve

the goal. The plan received federal authorization in Section

601 of the Water Resources Development Act of 2000 (Public

Law 106-541).

Everglades Expedited Projects (formerly Acceler8) is a major

boost for Everglades restoration led by the SFWMD, and

includes eight critical, fast-tracked restoration projects that

will step up the pace of restoration.

More SFWMD Everglades on the Web

Have you ever wanted to participate in making important

decisions affecting the Everglades restoration? Help us by

getting involved in the restoration process!

THE EVERGLADES: IT'S YOURS TO SAVE!

Everglades Tomorrow http://www.sfwmd.gov/portal/page/portal/pg_grp_sfwmd_koe/pg_sfwmd...

2 of 2 12/9/2011 11:51 AM