Bassmaster - June 3, 2024
The Florida Everglades teeters on the brink of disaster — can ambitious restoration projects save it in time?
When people think of the Florida Everglades, their visions automatically shift to vast swamps filled with alligators, wading birds and colorful exotic fish species.
They don’t think of Mickey Mouse, the Hulk Coaster at Universal Studios or even the bass fishing mecca of Lake Okeechobee. But the true path of the Everglades begins near Orlando with the Kissimmee River, with water discharging into Lake Okeechobee and trickling southward until it empties into Florida Bay near cities made famous by Jimmy Buffett and the Beach Boys, like Miami, Key Largo and Islamorada.
In all, this American environmental treasure covers 7,800 square miles — and unfortunately, its future is anything but assured.
“The Everglades is just an unparalleled outdoor experience,” said Steve Davis, chief science officer for The Everglades Foundation. “You could spend a month down here and still not fully experience it all.
“But there are serious problems that need to be addressed, and that takes time. It took us a hundred years, literally, to put ourselves in this position. None of the problems we’re facing can be fixed overnight.”