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Hydrologic Disturbances

The health of Florida’s aquatic ecosystems is threatened by hydrologic disturbances, from ditching and draining to fragmentation and water quality degradation. Water is routinely diverted from natural areas for residential and agricultural uses. In the Everglades, a human-altered hydrological regime has caused a sharp decline in ecosystem health, resulting in devastating losses to wading bird populations. Polluted agricultural and urban runoff leads to excessive inputs of nutrients, such as nitrogen and phosphorous, and causes imbalances in the water chemistry.  In addition, the fragmentation of water systems contributes to high concentrations of pollutants that negatively affect the natural life cycles of numerous species. 

 

To learn about restoration efforts in the Florida Everglades, visit the South Florida Ecosystem Restoration Task Force website and the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan website.

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