REGIONAL APPROACH TO HYDROLOGIC-ECOLOGIC RESTORATION OF THE SOUTH FLORIDA ECOSYSTEM

 INTRODUCTION

This section is an overall characterization of the regional South Florida Ecosystem as it was prior to drainage and development and as it is today with the problems that drainage and development entailed. An overall restoration goal for the system is stated, followed by restoration guidelines and overarching objectives for system restoration. The themes stated in these introductory paragraphs will be repeated often in the subsection treatments that follow in the main body of the report. The problems and potential solutions identified in subregions apply to the entire system; the problems can only be be solved by a regional approach. An important lesson from history is that, in this ecosystem, any successful restoration plan developed must encompass the whole regional system, not geographic areas in isolation.

 The fundamental tenet of South Florida restoration is that hydrologic restoration is a necessary starting point for ecological restoration. Water built the South Florida Ecosystem. Water management changes are seriously damaging this Ecosystem. And restoration begins with the reinstatement of the natural distribution of water in space and time. The spatial extent of the hydrologically restored area is critical to ecological restoration, as will be explained below. Water quality improvement must be an integral part of all hydrologic restoration. The focus is on the wetlands because the greater part of the predrainage South Florida Ecosystem was wet.

 Management of the hydrologic system affects land use and is constrained by land use considerations. The treatment of land use is an important factor in restoration planning. Furthermore, supportive land use planning and permitting is essential to the success of the restoration effort. In recognition of this fact, the Interagency Task Force listed the following as one of its main coordinated management objectives:

Support development of a comprehensive wetland permit mitigation strategy for South Florida that furthers ecosystem restoration.

Environmentally sound land-use planning and development, as well as hydrologic improvements, will be necessary for restoration success. Although it may place some constraints on land use, the restoration program will reduce constraints on economic expansion by increasing the overall water supply and improving the quality of life.

 Presently, urban and economic growth is not sustainable and agriculture is not sustainable, given the artificially created limitation of water in South Florida, as well as the loss of organic soils. By addressing these problems, this restoration plan provides for more sustainable economic opportunities while at the same time improving the sustainability of natural ecosystems.