Brian Barton
The Everglades is a unique network of natural resources that makes up the largest wilderness east of the Mississippi River and the largest subtropical wilderness in the United States. Unfortunately, the future of the Everglades is uncertain due to pollution. The development of agriculture, soil subsidence, and the use of agricultural chemicals have all had detrimental effects on the water quality of the Everglades. Air pollution from industrial sources and sugarcane burning also exacerbates climate change and harms the Everglades. Scientists are working with officials to understand how pollution has affected the Everglades and to restore and protect this ecosystem.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Nitrogen compounds | Affect the aquatic ecosystems |
| Mercury | Harms wildlife and causes human health concerns |
| Pesticides | Harmful to the environment |
| Phosphorus | Causes water pollution |
| Sulfur | Causes hydrogen sulfide formation in the soil |
| Climate change | Exacerbated by air pollution from industrial sources |
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What You'll Learn
Nitrogen compounds and eutrophication
Eutrophication, a process by which excess nutrients enhance soil and water productivity, is a primary concern in the Everglades. While eutrophication can benefit some plant species, it can also lead to the overgrowth of certain plant populations and alter the overall composition of the ecosystem. Nitrogen deposition is a key driver of eutrophication, as it increases the availability of nitrogen as a nutrient in the soil and water.
The Everglades, a network of natural resources including sawgrass marshes, freshwater ponds, and prairies, has been affected by human activities that have disrupted the natural water flow and caused water pollution. One of the primary sources of nitrogen compounds in the Everglades is agricultural runoff. Agricultural activities in the region, including the use of fertilisers, have resulted in elevated levels of nitrogen entering the ecosystem. This excess nitrogen contributes to eutrophication, favouring the growth of certain plant species over others.
In addition to agricultural runoff, stormwater runoff has also contributed to the issue of nitrogen compounds and eutrophication in the Everglades. The redirection of stormwater into the Everglades has introduced high levels of nitrogen, particularly in the form of fertilisers, which have further intensified the process of eutrophication. As a result, the native flora and fauna of the Everglades have been disrupted, and invasive species have become more prevalent.
The impact of nitrogen compounds and eutrophication on the Everglades is complex and far-reaching. Some plant species have shown declines in growth, survival, or abundance due to their sensitivity to increased nitrogen levels. Additionally, the symbiotic relationships between plants and mycorrhizal fungi have been disrupted by elevated nitrogen levels. This disruption has made plants more vulnerable to stressors such as drought, further compounding the ecological challenges in the Everglades.
Addressing the issues of nitrogen compounds and eutrophication in the Everglades requires a comprehensive approach. Efforts have been made to construct treatment wetlands, also known as Stormwater Treatment Areas (STAs), to remove excess nutrients, including nitrogen, before water is discharged into the Everglades. These initiatives aim to restore the natural balance of this unique ecosystem and protect the diverse plant and animal communities that call it home.
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Mercury and pesticides
The Everglades is a unique network of natural resources that makes up the largest wilderness east of the Mississippi River and the largest subtropical wilderness in the United States. It is home to dozens of threatened or endangered species, such as the Florida panther, American crocodile, snail kite, and wood stork.
The Everglades' ecosystem has helped shape the natural heritage, culture, and economy of Florida and the Nation. However, it is under threat from various pollutants, including mercury and pesticides. Mercury is a naturally occurring element with no known biological function, but it forms chemical compounds of various toxicities. The most dangerous form is methylmercury, a powerful teratogen, endocrine disruptor, and neurotoxin. It is readily absorbed and biomagnified through the food web, affecting wildlife and humans. Methylmercury has been found in high concentrations in panther hair and blood in South Florida, as well as in sediment, vegetation, and various levels of the food chain, including frogs, fish, birds, and endangered species.
Agricultural releases of sulfate into the freshwater Everglades have also led to enrichment in sulfur, causing deleterious effects on the ecosystem. The formation of hydrogen sulfide in Everglades soils can be toxic to wetland vegetation and aquatic animals, particularly burrowing species. Phosphorus in agricultural and stormwater runoff has also degraded water quality in the Everglades since the 1960s, as the natural plant and animal communities developed under very low phosphorus conditions.
Pesticides, such as endosulfan, have been found in elevated concentrations in park sediment, surface waters, and native fish populations, leading to a ban on its use. These pollutants can travel thousands of miles through the air, depositing even in protected places like national parks. They can remain in the environment long after their use has been banned, continuing to cause negative environmental consequences.
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Phosphorus from agricultural runoff
Phosphorus is a growth stimulant for plants, allowing the passage of other nutrients through plant membranes. While phosphorus is an abundant nutrient in Florida, the Everglades ecosystem evolved as a low-phosphorus environment. The lack of phosphorus was a limiting factor in shaping the Everglades' unique array of sawgrass, wet prairies, and open-water sloughs dotted with tree islands.
However, human activities have led to a constant addition of phosphates to the soil in the Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA). Agricultural runoff containing phosphorus has been released into the southern parts of the Greater Everglades Ecosystem through numerous canals. This has impaired water quality in large portions of the Everglades, particularly in Lake Okeechobee. The excess phosphorus acts as a pollutant, causing ecosystem changes and degrading water quality.
The current phosphorus loadings into the system are expected to persist for decades due to legacy phosphorus storage in the Lake Okeechobee watershed, the lake itself, and the EAA. Stormwater treatment areas (STAs) have been constructed to remove phosphorus before water is discharged into the Everglades. However, the current acreage of STAs is insufficient to treat existing water flows and phosphorus loads effectively.
To address this issue, remediation plans include the implementation of Best Management Practices (BMPs) by area growers to reduce phosphorus discharge into the drainage canals of the EAA. Additionally, the construction of managed wetlands within the EAA is planned to treat the remaining phosphorus after discharge from EAA farms. These efforts aim to reduce phosphorus pollution and restore the Everglades' unique low-phosphorus environment.
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Sulphur from agricultural releases
The Everglades, a unique network of natural resources, is facing a major issue with water quality. One of the key concerns is the elevated levels of sulfate entering the ecosystem, which has been linked to agricultural releases of sulfur.
Agricultural practices in the Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA) have been identified as a significant source of sulfur pollution. The use of agricultural sulfur as a soil amendment in the EAA has resulted in high levels of sulfate in the water. Canals within the EAA, which receive water from Lake Okeechobee, have been found to have elevated concentrations of sulfate. This contaminated water then flows through the canals into the Everglades, impacting the ecosystem.
The problem is exacerbated by the fact that Stormwater Treatment Areas (STAs), designed to treat phosphorus, have little effect on reducing sulfate levels. As a result, the sulfate from agricultural sources passes through the STAs and enters the Everglades, leading to contamination. The major sources of sulfate in descending order are:
- Release of legacy sulfate from the EAA due to soil oxidation/subsidence
- Lake Okeechobee waters passing through the EAA via canals
- Ongoing agricultural applications in the EAA
The enrichment of sulfur in the Everglades has had deleterious effects on the ecosystem. It has been linked to the formation of hydrogen sulfide in Everglades soils, which can reach potentially toxic levels for wetland vegetation and aquatic animals, particularly burrowing species. Additionally, sulfate contamination has been associated with high levels of methylmercury in the ecosystem, which is a powerful teratogen, endocrine disruptor, and neurotoxin.
To address this issue, it is recommended to implement Best Management Practices (BMPs) for sulfur use in the EAA. This includes reducing the amount of agricultural sulfur used, replacing it with alternative soil amendments, and using chloride instead of sulfate in fertilizers. By following these practices, the amount of sulfate entering the Everglades can be significantly reduced, mitigating the negative impacts on the sensitive and unique Everglades ecosystem.
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Climate change and air pollution
The Everglades is a unique and treasured landscape, a network of natural resources that forms the largest wilderness east of the Mississippi River and the largest subtropical wilderness in the United States. It is home to dozens of threatened or endangered species, such as the Florida panther, American crocodile, snail kite, and wood stork.
However, the Everglades is under threat from climate change and air pollution. The air pollution from industrial sources near Miami exacerbates climate change around the Florida coast. The effects of climate change on the Everglades include extreme heat, rising sea levels, increased precipitation, and more intense hurricane seasons. These changes stress coral reefs, harm drinking water aquifers and freshwater vegetation, and compromise habitats for numerous species.
Agricultural practices, such as sugarcane burning, also contribute to air pollution in the region. This type of burning disproportionately harms nearby communities and drives haze and air pollution in the Everglades. The average natural visual range in the Everglades National Park should be about 100 miles without pollution, but air contaminants reduce this to about 40 miles, and as low as 20 miles on high pollution days.
In addition to air pollution, water quality in the Everglades has been degraded by pollutants such as phosphorus, nitrogen compounds, and mercury. Phosphorus in agricultural and stormwater runoff has degraded water quality since the 1960s, and nitrogen deposition can cause eutrophication, increasing soil and water nutrients and changing community composition. Mercury, a powerful neurotoxin, enters the ecosystem through rainfall and is absorbed and biomagnified through the food web.
Efforts to address these issues include updating industrial facilities to reduce pollution, monitoring air quality, and advocating for stronger climate science and haze rules. The Western Everglades Restoration Plan, if authorized by Congress, would improve connectivity and reduce pollution in the region. Additionally, the Everglades Agricultural Area Reservoir south of Lake Okeechobee is expected to bring new, clean water to the area, reducing wildfire frequency and improving wetland health.
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Frequently asked questions
Phosphorus in agricultural and stormwater runoff has degraded water quality in the Everglades since the 1960s. Phosphorus and other nutrients, such as nitrogen compounds, run off from sugar cane farms and into the water.
The natural plant and animal communities in the Everglades developed under very low phosphorus conditions. The increase in phosphorus has caused eutrophication, which increases soil and water nutrients, leading to changes in the community composition of the ecosystem.
The state and federal governments have constructed about 57,000 acres of treatment wetlands (called Stormwater Treatment Areas, or STAs) that remove phosphorus from the water before it is discharged into the Everglades.
The Everglades is also affected by air pollution from industrial sources, which exacerbates climate change in the region. Sulfur released from agricultural practices is another concern, as it can be toxic to wetland vegetation and aquatic animals. Mercury and pesticides are also pollutants of concern, as they can travel long distances and accumulate in the food chain.
The Everglades experiences increased risks of saltwater intrusion due to rising sea levels, which can harm drinking water aquifers and freshwater vegetation. Additionally, extreme heat events and intensifying hurricane seasons have negatively impacted coral reefs in the region.
