So you Want to Know More About...
Water Preserve
Areas
The concept of Water Preserve Areas was first defined by The Everglades Coalition in 1993, and was recommended in the Report on Water Supply Preserves, by the National Audubon Society, Everglades Restoration Campaign, January 12, 1994.
The desired preserves would create areas into which diverted surface water can be pumped and stored for later use. This system would allow water to be moved away from estuaries and into preserves which would help restore the bird and fish populations in the Everglades ecosystem, while replenishing potable drinking water supplies for South Florida.
Large quantities of water are available for this purpose. Results form modeling performed by the South Florida Water Management District estimate that more than one trillion gallons of water per year are directed through the Central and Southern Florida Project (C&SF) canals to coastal bays and estuaries. Water Preserve Areas can be designed to allow the C&SF Project to help meet the direct human needs of South Florida while restoring and protecting the Everglades ecosystem.
Objectives of Water Preserve Areas:
- Restoring natural Everglades Water Levels
- Return the Everglades, flows which now are artificial routed away to coastal estuaries and bays.
- Ensuring clean water is delivered to the Everglades from the C&SF Project.
- Return more natural timing and distribution to Everglades water deliveries.
- Increasing aquifer recharge as well as increasing surface and subsurface storage for urban consumption.
- Protecting urban wellfields
- Providing recreational opportunities to the residents of Dade, Broward, Palm Beach and Monroe Counties.
- Provide habitat for plants and animals that thrive in wetland communities.
- Eliminate exotic plants
The Water Preserve Area Feasibility Study is currently underway.
