Everglades Restoration Project
What is Florida without the Everglades? We may have beaches and rivers and other types of terrain in Florida, as well as many historical landmarks, but seriously, how would we even exist without Everglades National Park? The Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP) is Florida’s massive, decades-long project designed to fix the famous “River of Grass.” For many years, people built canals and drained the land for farms and towns, which really hurt the Everglades. The most important goal of this entire plan is to bring back the natural flow of water, making sure the right amount of clean water goes from Lake Okeechobee all the way down to Florida Bay at the right time.
“It’s a great thing; we need to have done this a while ago,” said senior Sofia Crespo.
Cleaning and Storing the Water
Getting this natural water flow back depends on fixing and building several major structures across South Florida.
One of the biggest projects is the Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA) Reservoir system, located just south of Lake Okeechobee. This large facility is built to catch extra rainwater that often carries pollution, like too much phosphorus. The water is cleaned in huge, constructed wetlands called Stormwater Treatment Areas (STAs). These STAs act like giant natural filters, where special water plants absorb the bad stuff—things such as pollutants, unnatural oils, anything harmful to the ecosystem really.
Fixing the Land
Another key part of the cleanup is the Picayune Strand Restoration
Project (PSRP) in the western Everglades’ job focuses on taking apart old logging roads and filling in about 48 miles of canals. By getting rid of these old structures, the project lets water return to its natural movement-a slow, wide flow across the land, like a gentle sheet. This action is bringing back life to areas like the cypress swamps that were dried out before.
“I would want it to be restored, wildlife and life,” said senior Giancarlo Issagia.
With steady money coming from both the state and federal governments, the restoration work is moving faster than ever. While the complete repair of the Everglades will take many more years, these building projects are a huge step forward. They are helping to grow and protect the homes of important animals, like the Florida panther and the various wading birds. Animals in the Everglades and the Everglades themselves are a vital part of Florida’s ecosystem, working in harmony with one another to keep nature alive, which keeps South Florida’s environment and and drinking water healthy for everyone.
“I think that it’s good for the environment Because we need to save the habitats” Senior Zoe Maseri
