SUB-REGION 6: BIG CYPRESS NORTH TO CALOOSAHATCHEE RIVER
(The area of Big Cypress Swamp has been revised to include the northwest corner of Everglades -- the Ten Thousand Islands) westward from East Slough)
ECOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS:
o Has largest area most closely approaching pre-urbanization of any south Florida sub-region.
o Dominated by seasonally flooded cypress savannas and freshwater marshes with interspersed pine-dominated uplands; an extensive coastal fringe of mangroves with extensive beaches and numerous estuaries are significant.
o Urbanized west coast.
o Agriculture common in the north.
o Eastern boundary is hydraulically stabilized, otherwise self-contained.
o Large estuaries--10,000 Islands.
o Upland areas relatively intact biologically.
o Last remaining large area of unlogged pine forest in south Florida.
o Largest stand of virgin bald cypress in the U.S. (Corkscrew).
o Fakahatchee Strand is the center of U.S. orchid species diversity.
o Large number of endangered species (e.g. panther, red-cockaded woodpecker, Big Cypress fox squirrel, manatee).
o Vascular epiphytic diversity.
o Water quality relatively good in public lands.
ECOLOGICAL RESTORATION OBJECTIVES:
o Maintain or restore Class III standard water quality in disturbed areas (e.g. citrus).
o Remove invasive introduced species from public natural lands and control elsewhere (e.g. Melaleuca, Brazilian pepper).
o Maintain and restore native biodiversity.
o Reintroduce extirpated ["recover listed"] species:e.g.red wolf).
o Restore natural fire regimes in natural areas.
o Restore natural vegetation along eastern boundary.
o Re-establish pre-drainage wading bird populations/patterns.
o Restore estuaries and beaches even in urban areas to be better suited for wildlife utilization.
o Prevent further loss of natural lands through acquisition or straight zoning regulations.
HYDROLOGIC RESTORATION OBJECTIVES:
o Restore natural hydrologic regime following model of Browder (1976) and the Natural System Model (Fennema et al. 1994).
o Nullify the effects of L-28 canal/levee on historic overflow patterns on the eastern Big Cypress watershed boundary.
o Restore original volumes and timing of flows in major rivers (Lostmans, New, & Turner Rivers, Halfway Creek, Sig Walker Strand, and Barron River) by plugging, culverting and removal of canals.
o Restore predrainage flow patterns in southeastern Big Cypress Basin by strategic culverting of U.S. 41 and county road 94.
o Restore seasonal flooding to Mullet Slough by returning flows to pre-L-28 interceptor/Deer Fence canal levels based on Natural System Model.
o Maintain water flows and levels through Corkscrew/ Okaloacoochee Slough/Hinson Marsh/ Fakahatchee Strand. (Browder 1976).
o Maintain hydrostatic head and groundwater flow patterns in Sub-Region 5 (Klein et al. 1964, Klein et al. 1970)
o Restore natural surface flow patterns through jetport by returning the disturbed surface to natural grade, landscaping the area, and culverting the road.
o Achieve and maintain Class III water quality standards.
o Rookery Bay (Henderson Creek): Reverse altered water flows and water quality resulting from upstream agricultural operations.
o Faka-Union Canal: Stabilize quality of freshwater outflow must be stabilized at natural background values.
o Golden Gates Estates: Reestablishment of natural surface water flows.
CRITICAL LINKAGES:
o Habitat linkage for critical species (panther, black bear, woodstork, snail kite).
o Important hydrologic connections between Water Conservation Area [Sub-Regions #5 and #6, e.g.
Mullet Slough, western basins, and East Slough with #7].
o Indirect freshwater flows to Florida Bay (Unit #8).
SUCCESS CRITERIA:
o Native wetland species redominate wetland plant communities.
o Native animal populations return to recent historic ranges and abundance (e.g. woodstork, panther).
o Periphyton and algal communities return to levels common in unaltered systems.
o Class III water quality standards maintained or restored.
o Mercury levels in wildlife populations are reduced to levels that exhibit no symptomatic effects on animal behavior, reproduction, survival, etc.
o Mercury levels in freshwater fish, alligators, frogs, turtles, and birds do not exceed EPA and Florida screening criteria for protection of human health.
o Experimental flows commence across eastern boundary, based on seasonal stages and weather patterns.
o River system baseflows restored to 1950's levels (or levels determined by interactive models).
o Groundwater characteristics in the Big Cypress area are similar to predrainage conditions, as suggested by Natural System Model.
o Reversal of plant community changes (e.g. pine invasion of prairie and proliferation of cattails) due to water quality and water depth changes and flow reduction.
o Exotic species are reduced to a level at which they do not adversely affect structure and function of natural communities.
