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Last updated: October 11, 2002
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Why are modified water deliveries important to
Everglades National Park?
Poster presented May 1999, at the South Florida Restoration Science Forum
By: Erik Knight
Part 1: Endangered Species of the Everglades
Changes in Everglades hydrology have
caused much of the
Cape Sable Seaside Sparrow habitat to become
unsuitable
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Longer periods of flooding
grassy marsh 
sawgrass inundation during nesting
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Shorter periods of flooding
grassy marsh
hardwoods increased fire incidence
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Mean Annual Breeding
Population (pairs of adults) of Wood Storks Nesting in Everglades National
Park, 1950's to 1980's.
(Click on graph above for larger version.)
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Only 10% of the Wood Stork
population remains compared to pre-1950.
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Excessive inflow prevent the formation
of shallow pools that concentrate fish.
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Overdrainage of the freshwater sloughs
reduces flows to the estuaries which decreases fish production.
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The diet of the Snail Kite
consists almost entirely of apple snails.
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One drought year can deplete the breeding
population for the next year leaving the kite with an insufficient food
supply.
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Both Crocodiles and Manatees
prefer relatively low salinity marine environments
(Click on photos for larger versions.)
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Hatchling crocodiles will not survive
without access to brackish or freshwater
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Reduced freshwater flows to downstream
estuaries may adversely affect the quantity and quality of benthic vegetation
available to manatees.
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Next: The Experimental Water Deliveries Project
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