RESTORATION GOALS
The idealized goal for the natural areas of South Florida is to restore to predrainage conditions the landscape-scale hydrologic and ecologic structure and function in order to reinstate ecosystem integrity and sustainable biodiversity. The goal is an ecosystem that is resilient to both chronic stresses and catastrophic events with as little human intervention as possible.
The overall restoration goal for the South Florida Ecosystem is to establish a healthy, sustainable ecosystem that includes man and his activities.
SYSTEM-WIDE OBJECTIVES
o Maximize the spatial extent and landscape heterogeneity of the system to recover its ecological structure and function. Prevent further wetland loss, recover undeveloped degraded wetlands, and restore landscape elements that have been lost to development.
o Restore the natural hydrologic structure and function of the system.
a) Restore sheet flow throughout the system.
b) Restore strong hydrologic linkages between areas.
c) Restore the natural dynamic water storage capacity of the system.
d) Restore the natural fundamental relationship of ground and surface water levels and water flow with rainfall.
e) Restore the natural quantity, timing, location, and quality of freshwater flow throughout the system and into estuaries.
o Gradually decompartmentalize the Water Conservation Areas to reinstate sheet flow from WCA1 through WCA3. This measure may make it easier to move water from Lake Okeechobee into the Water Conservation Areas.
o Recover populations of threatened and endangered species.
o Restore natural biological diversity.
o Reestablish natural vegetation and periphyton communities spatially and compositionally, particularly where they have been lost or altered as a result of man-caused impacts (e.g., nutrient pollution, hydroperiod change, altered fire regimes).
o Reduce the dependence of urban and agricultural areas on water supplies in Lake Okeechobee, the Everglades, and the Big Cypress.
o Restore natural rates of productivity throughout the Ecosystem.
o Reestablish sustainable breeding wading bird populations and colonies.
o Halt and reverse the invasion of South Florida ecosystem by exotic plants and animals.
o Prevent point and non-point airborne or waterborne pollution, including contaminants, excessive nutrients, sediments, and thermal pollutants.
o Reestablish the corridors for movements, dispersion, and interactions of vegetation and animals.
o Increase the hard coral cover on Florida Keys reefs.
o Restore natural estuarine and coastal productivity and fisheries.
o Link agricultural and urban growth management with ecosystem management.
o Restore a system that is self-maintaining with minimum human intervention.
o Restore the sustainability of systems of man and nature in south Florida that support cities, farms, and industries in an environment of clean air and water and abundant natural resources.
