The wetlands of south Florida were regarded as being inhospitable and without intrinsic value. In the early 1900's, draining the wetlands was considered to be essential for commerce and safety. Loss of lives as a result of hurricane flooding in the 1920's accelerated drainage projects, primarily in the Everglades. Today, much of south Florida's wetlands are intensively managed, with more than 1,400 mi of primary canals and more than 100 water control structures. Because of drainage and development, the south Florida ecosystem has experienced a variety of environmental problems such as loss of soil, nutrient enrichment, contamination by pesticides, mercury buildup in the biota, fragmentation of landscape, loss of wetlands and wetland functions, widespread invasion by exotic species, increased algal blooming in coastal waters, seagrass die off, and declines in fishing resources.
Water is life for the human and natural systems in south Florida.
Clean, abundant water was a fundamental characteristic of the original south Florida system. Increased human population and activity in south Florida have brought, not only an increased need for water, but also a decrease in water supply and a deterioration in water quality. Changes in the hydrologic system are thought by many to be the root cause of the dramatic declines in fish and wildlife populations and habitat across the south Florida ecosystem. Urban and agricultural lands in south Florida. Land use and land cover categories based on South Florida Water Management District classification codes.