Salinity levels reached 70 parts per thousand in some spots - nearly twice that of ocean water. The delicate saltwater-freshwater balance in the bay was disrupted, interfering with the reproduction of many marine species and creating conditions ripe for the spread of algae blooms, many scientists say. The blooms tend to be cyclical, and this year, they have shrunk considerably from their peak in 1994. High rainfall, coupled with increased water flow through one part of the Everglades, has meant a sizable increase in freshwater in the bay in 1995. This year, for the first time in years, shrimp and lobster populations began to rebound.
Most people involved in the Florida Bay cleanup are guardedly optimistic.
Although the Everglades can never be returned to its natural state, the flow of water through it can be increased and agricultural pollutants reduced. And as the Everglades goes, so goes Florida Bay. The federally led effort to help restore the Everglades and clean up Florida Bay has two main thrusts. The first is, in effect, to undo some of the old canal systems of the Everglades so that something resembling the original water flow can be re-created. Learn more about Florida Bay research projects .