Assessing the Hydrologic Response of Key Restoration Components to Everglades Ecosystem
Publication: Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management
Volume 146, Issue 11
Abstract
The Everglades is a large, complex, and highly managed ecosystem, and its natural hydrologic properties, water quality, soils, flora, and fauna have been significantly altered by the Central and Southern Florida Project. The multi-billion-dollar Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP) was authorized in 2000 to restore and protect the Everglades ecosystem. However, the progress in implementing CERP projects has been slow because of their size, complexity, and long-term nature. In 2016, a review of CERP recommended updating it, and in 2018, a mid-course assessment was recommended to incorporate new scientific knowledge. This study began a reassessment of the CERP by evaluating the relative importance of a range of factors, including operations, water storage, removal of barriers to water flow, and seepage control. The purpose was to identify those elements most affecting hydrologic and ecological responses in different regions of the Everglades. The South Florida Water Management Model, a regional hydrologic model, was used as a primary tool to simulate the restoration scenarios over a 36-year period (1965–2000). All scenarios provided substantial improvements to the hydrologic system when compared to the existing conditions. However, restoration benefits of these scenarios were unequally distributed across the Everglades landscape. The scenario that expanded the surface storage in the Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA) to reduced flood control discharges to the northern estuaries by 66% relative to the existing conditions, which was 8% higher than CERP. However, the scenario with CERP projects significantly increased flows to Everglades National Park. The findings of this study are relevant to Everglades restoration especially in light of recent and emerging science on storage feasibility and climate change.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
Data Availability Statement
All modeling scenarios generated during the study appear in Figs. S1 –S8 . Some or all data, models, or code generated or used during the study are available from the corresponding author by request.
Acknowledgments
Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in the material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Everglades Foundation. We also acknowledge Lacoste, the Batchelor Foundation, the Crawford Taylor Foundation, and the Moore Foundation for their financial support.
References
Brown, C. J. 2015. “An assessment of seepage into the L-31N Canal along Northeast Everglades National Park, Florida, USA.” Environ. Earth Sci. 73 (9): 5747–5759. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12665-014-3828-y.
Cadavid, L. G., C. J. Neidrauer, J. T. B. Obeysekera, E. R. Santee, P. Trimble, and W. Wilcox. 2006. “Lake Okeechobee operations by means of the water supply and environment (WSE) regulation schedule.” In Proc., Operations Reservoirs in Changing Conditions. Reston, VA: ASCE.
Callaway, J. C. 2001. “Hydrology and substrate.” In Handbook of restoring tidal wetlands, edited by J. Zedler, 89–115. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press.
Choi, J., and J. W. Harvey. 2017. “Predicting outcomes of restored Everglades high flow: A model system for scientifically managed floodplains.” Supplement, Restor. Ecol. 25 (S1): S39–S47. https://doi.org/10.1111/rec.12479.
Davis, S. M., and J. C. Ogden. 1994. Everglades: The ecosystem and its restoration. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press.
Day, J. W., J. Barras, G. P. Kemp, R. Lane, W. J. Mitsch, and P. H. Templet. 2013. “Integrated coastal management in the Mississippi Delta: System functioning as the basis of sustainable management.” In Gulf of Mexico: Origin, waters biota, edited by J. W. Day and A. Yañez-Arancibia, 93–107. College Station, TX: Texas A&M University Press.
Fish, J. E., and M. Stewart. 1991. Vol. 90 of Hydrogeology of the surficial aquifer system, Dade County, Florida. US Dept. of the Interior, USGS.
Harvey, J. W., P. R. Wetzel, T. E. Lodge, V. C. Engel, and M. S. Ross. 2017. “Role of a naturally varying flow regime in Everglades restoration.” Supplement, Restor. Ecol. 25 (S1): S27–S38. https://doi.org/10.1111/rec.12558.
Hopfensperger, K. N., K. A. M. Engelhardt, and S. W. Seagle. 2006. “The use of case studies in establishing feasibility for wetland restoration.” Restor. Ecol. 14 (4): 578–586. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1526-100X.2006.00169.x.
Johnson, K. G., M. S. Allen, and K. E. Havens. 2007. “A review of littoral vegetation, fisheries, and wildlife responses to hydrologic variation at Lake Okeechobee.” Wetlands 27 (1): 110–126. https://doi.org/10.1672/0277-5212(2007)27[110:AROLVF]2.0.CO;2.
Jones, E. L., L. Rendell, E. Pirotta, and J. A. Long. 2016. “Novel application of a quantitative spatial comparison tool to species distribution data.” Ecol. Indic. 70 (Nov): 67–76. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2016.05.051.
Julian, D., et al. 2016. “Decision support system for water and environmental resources in the Connecticut River basin.” J. Water Resour. Plann. Manage. 142 (1): 04015038. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)WR.1943-5452.0000538.
Kaplan, D. A., R. Paudel, M. J. Cohen, and J. W. Jawitz. 2012. “Orientation matters: Patch anisotropy controls discharge competence and hydroperiod in a patterned peatland.” Geophys. Res. Lett. 39 (17): 7. https://doi.org/10.1029/2012gl052754.
Lal, A. M. W. 1998. “Performance comparison of overland flow algorithms.” J. Hydraul. Eng. 124 (4): 342–349. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9429(1998)124:4(342).
Lal, A. M. W. 2006. “Determination of multiple aquifer parameters using generated water level disturbances.” Water Resour. Res. 42 (3): 17. https://doi.org/10.1029/2005WR004218.
Light, S. S., and J. W. Dineen. 1994. “Water control in the Everglades: A historical perspective.” In Everglades: The ecosystem and its restoration, edited by S. M. Davis and J. C. Ogden, 47–84. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press.
Lodge, T. E. 2016. The Everglades handbook: Understanding the ecosystem. Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press.
Lorenz, J. J. 2014. “A review of the effects of altered hydrology and salinity on vertebrate fauna and their habitats in Northeastern Florida Bay.” Supplement, Wetlands 34 (S1): 189–200. https://doi.org/10.1007/s13157-013-0377-1.
Loucks, D. P., E. Z. Stakhiv, and L. R. Martin. 2000. “Sustainable water resources management.” J. Water Resour. Plann. Manage. 126 (2): 43–47. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)0733-9496(2000)126:2(43).
McVoy, C. W., W. P. Said, J. Obeysekera, J. A. VanArman, and T. W. Dreschel. 2011. Landscapes and hydrology of the predrainage Everglades. Gainesville, FL: University of Florida Press.
Min, J. H., R. Paudel, and J. W. Jawitz. 2010. “Spatially distributed modeling of surface water flow dynamics in the Everglades ridge and slough landscape.” J. Hydrol. 390 (1–2): 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2010.06.023.
Mitsch, W. J., and J. G. Gosselink. 2015. Wetlands. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.
NASEM (National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine). 2014. Progress toward restoring the Everglades: The fifth biennial review: 2014. Washington, DC: NASEM.
NASEM (National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine). 2016. Progress toward restoring the Everglades: The sixth biennial review—2016. Washington, DC: NASEM.
NASEM (National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine). 2018. Progress toward restoring the Everglades: The seventh biennial review—2018. Washington, DC: NASEM.
Neidrauer, C., P. Linton, A. Ali, D. Crawford, L. Cadavid, K. Tarboton, and J. Obeysekera. 2007. “Projected performance of the new rainfall-based water delivery plan for the Everglades shark slough.” In Proc., World Environmental and Water Resources Congress 2007. Reston, VA: ASCE.
Nemeth, M. S., W. M. Wilcox, and H. M. Solo-Gabriele. 2000. Evaluation of the use of reach transmissivity to quantify leakage beneath levee 31N, Miami-Dade County, Florida. Reston, VA: USGS.
NRC (National Research Council). 2015. Review of the Everglades aquifer storage and recovery regional study. Washington, DC: NRC.
Nungesser, M. K. 2011. “Reading the landscape: Temporal and spatial changes in a patterned peatland.” Wetlands Ecol. Manage. 19 (6): 475–493. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11273-011-9229-z.
Obeysekera, J., L. Kuebler, S. Ahmed, M. L. Chang, V. Engel, C. Langevin, E. Swain, and Y. S. Wan. 2011. “Use of hydrologic and hydrodynamic modeling for ecosystem restoration.” Supplement, Crit. Rev. Environ. Sci. Technol. 41 (S1): 447–488. https://doi.org/10.1080/10643389.2010.531226.
Parker, M. L., W. S. Arnold, S. P. Geiger, P. Gorman, and E. H. Leone. 2013. “Impacts of freshwater management activities on eastern oyster (Crassostrea virginica) density and recruitment: Recovery and long-term stability in seven Florida estuaries.” J. Shellfish Res. 32 (3): 695–708. https://doi.org/10.2983/035.032.0311.
RECOVER (Restoration Coordination and Verification). 2014. Comprehensive Everglades restoration plan: System status report. Jacksonville, FL: USACE.
Sandoval-Solis, S., and D. C. McKinney. 2012. “Integrated water management for environmental flows in the Rio Grande.” J. Water Resour. Plann. Manage. 140 (3): 355–364. https://doi.org/10.1061/(ASCE)WR.1943-5452.0000331.
Scheidt, D. J., R. J. Stober, and K. Thornton. 2000. South Florida ecosystem assessment: Water management, soil loss, eutrophication and habitat. Washington, DC: US Environmental Protection Agency.
SFWMD (South Florida Water Management District). 2005. Documentation of the South Florida water management model v5.5. West Palm Beach, FL: SFWMD.
SFWMD (South Florida Water Management District). 2006. Natural system model (NSM) version 4.5. West Palm Beach, FL: SFWMD.
SFWMD (South Florida Water Management District). 2008. Management and restoration of coastal ecosystems. West Palm Beach, FL: SFWMD.
SFWMD (South Florida Water Management District). 2017. Northern Everglades and estuaries protection program. West Palm Beach, FL: SFWMD.
SFWMD (South Florida Water Management District). 2018. Central Everglades planning project post authorization change report: Feasibility study and draft environmental impact statement. West Palm Beach, FL: SFWMD.
Sklar, F. H., et al. 2005. “The ecological-societal underpinnings of Everglades restoration.” Front. Ecol. Environ. 3 (3): 161–169. https://doi.org/10.1890/1540-9295%282005%29003%5B0161%3ATEUOER%5D2.0.CO%3B2.
Tolley, S. G., A. K. Volety, M. Savarese, L. D. Walls, C. Linardich, and E. M. Everham. 2006. “Impacts of salinity and freshwater inflow on oyster-reef communities in Southwest Florida.” Aquat. Living Resour. 19 (4): 371–387. https://doi.org/10.1051/alr:2007007.
Toth, L. A., D. A. Arrington, M. A. Brady, and D. A. Muszick. 1995. “Conceptual evaluation of factors potentially affecting restoration of habitat structure within the channelized Kissimmee River ecosystem.” Restor. Ecol. 3 (3): 160–180. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1526-100X.1995.tb00168.x.
USACE. 2008. Central and Southern Florida project: Water control plan for Lake Okeechobee and Everglades agricultural area. Washington, DC: USACE.
USACE and SFWMD (South Florida Water Management District). 1999. Central and Southern Florida project comprehensive review study. Jacksonville, FL: USACE.
USACE and SFWMD (South Florida Water Management District). 2002. Lake belt in-ground reservoir technology pilot project management plan. Jacksonville, FL: USACE and SFWMD.
USACE and SFWMD (South Florida Water Management District). 2009. L-31N (L-30) seepage management pilot project final integrated pilot project design report environmental assessment. Jacksonville, FL: USACE and SFWMD.
USACE and SFWMD (South Florida Water Management District). 2014. Central Everglades planning project. Jacksonville, FL: USACE and SFWMD.
USACE and SFWMD (South Florida Water Management District). 2015. Comprehensive Everglades restoration plan: Aquifer storage and recovery regional study. Jacksonville, FL: USACE and SFWMD.
Wang, Z., A. C. Bovik, H. R. Sheikh, and E. P. Simoncelli. 2004. “Image quality assessment: From error visibility to structural similarity.” IEEE Trans. Image Process. 13 (4): 600–612. https://doi.org/10.1109/TIP.2003.819861.
Wealands, S. R., R. B. Grayson, and J. P. Walker. 2005. “Quantitative comparison of spatial fields for hydrological model assessment—Some promising approaches.” Adv. Water Resour. 28 (1): 15–32. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.advwatres.2004.10.001.
Wetzel, P. R., S. E. Davis, T. van Lent, S. M. Davis, and H. Henriquez. 2017a. “Science synthesis for management as a way to advance ecosystem restoration: Evaluation of restoration scenarios for the Florida Everglades.” Supplement, Restor. Ecol. 25 (S1): S4–S17. https://doi.org/10.1111/rec.12566.
Wetzel, P. R., J. P. Sah, and M. S. Ross. 2017b. “Tree islands: The bellwether of Everglades ecosystem function and restoration success.” Restor. Ecol. 25: S71–S85. https://doi.org/10.1111/rec.12428.
Wiederholt, R., R. Paudel, Y. Khare, S. E. Davis III, G. M. Naja, S. S. Romañach, L. Pearlstine, and T. Van Lent. 2019. “A multi-indicator spatial similarity approach for evaluating ecological restoration options.” Landscape Ecol. 34 (11): 2557–2574. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10980-019-00904-w.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Water Resources Planning and Management
Volume 146 • Issue 11 • November 2020
Copyright
© 2020 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Sep 6, 2019
Accepted: May 22, 2020
Published online: Sep 8, 2020
Published in print: Nov 1, 2020
Discussion open until: Feb 8, 2021
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.