Increased discharges of fresh water are harming our coastal estuaries. In our built system we are also seeing some environmental stresses. Agricultural land has been decreased by 16 percent. By the year 2050, it is projected that the population will triple in the area. The east coast of Florida has millions of acres of contaminated sites.
Some indicators show that serious problems lie ahead.
The first goal is to get the water right . We have disrupted the hydrology, quality, quantity, time and distribution of water within the system, and we have to mimic nature again. The Kissimmee River was channelized back in the 1960s. We will backfill over 22 miles of channels and re-contour over nine miles of the river channel. That will allow more storage and a more natural system in the northern part of the river. . . .