By the time it was over, five large canals acting as drains had been dug from Lake Okeechobee to the Atlantic Ocean to let water out: the Miami, North New River, Hillsboro, West Palm Beach, and St. Lucie canals. The story of the Everglades epitomizes government programs gone awry. and Coral Springs and others along the levee on the eastern edge of the Drainage was especially effective in the Everglades Agricultural Area, where exposure has oxidized much of the original peat soil. In 1939, a million acres of Everglades burned. Pioneer Life  |  Over 1,000 miles of canals and hundreds of pumping northwest edge of Loxahatchee Road--released water in drier times and removed Disston's drainage project, the first major attempt at reclaiming the Everglades, created a model for drainage projects following his own. The governors believed in their obligation to drain the wetlands for cultivation and settlement, and each one contributed to its progress, beginning with William Bloxham in 1881, although Napoleon Bonaparte Broward is most often remembered for beginning the actual drainage. During his 1904 campaign to be elected governor, Napoleon Bonaparte Broward promised to drain the Everglades, and his later projects were more effective than Disston's. wildlife-rich wetlands are half the size they were when the federal government Land Boom & Bust  |  Indeed, it was considered the proper thing to do." only high school is named after her. The Everglades today receives less than one-third of its historic water America's only sub-tropical wilderness and visitors travel from all over the This Timeline With metropolitan growth came urban problems associated with rapid expansion: The drainage of the Everglades began in 1906 with the hope that at least 500,000 acres of wetlands would be converted to fertile soil for farming. The Florida leg of the Everglades Expressway, This levee blocks the flow of water into the populated For each mile of canal that was cut, about 900 acres of land was drained. saltwater mangrove swamps. In 1881, he bought 4,000,000 acres of land for $1 million (25¢ per acre). The natural Everglades drainage system, supplied with fresh water solely by rainfall, once covered more than 11,000 square miles (28,500 square km) from the Kissimmee River basin to Lake Okeechobee and southward to the Gulf of Mexico, Florida Bay, and the Atlantic Ocean. In 1947 Everglades National Park officially opened, marking the first large-scale attempt to protect the "river of grass." and Coral Springs and others along the levee on the eastern edge of the She saw the fate of the Everglades and the Seminoles as intertwined. Between 1954 in South Florida, was a staunch advocate for protection of the Everglades. However, the canals easily got clogged with silt (dirt), so when roads and railroads connected to Lake Okeechobee, travel on the canals stopped. From 1904 until his death in 1910, Gov. the eastern Everglades and the suburbs from Palm Beach south to Homestead. Her resolve to protect Seminole culture led to the passing of a Florida Seminole Land bill that preserved 100,000 acres of undrained Everglades land for Seminole use. After the Civil War, a Pennsylvania real estate developer named Hamilton Disston was interested in draining the Everglades for agriculture. of this article was extracted from Draining and Development of the Everglades Ironically, this has led to water-use restrictions in one of North America’s wettest regions. Parkland’s Today, the park comprises a vast wetland wilderness unlike any other in the world. provide farming and inhabitable land. Historic and current water flow of the Everglades region in South Florida. The many players included several determined Florida governors, the railroad companies of Henry Flagler and others, and a series of government groups formed to be stewards of the land or to monitor the others who were involved. A barge at Canal Point. E-L  |, phone: 561.832.4164  |  ditches removing other water, the Everglades Fortunately, a slow turnaround has been happening for the Miami Everglades. This effort continues strongly today. According to the University of Florida, this endeavor was ultimately unsuccessful, and Disston parceled up this land and sold it. mail: P.O. The drainage was begun without any formal study of the landscape and without any consideration given to the environmental effects it would have. flow, the water is contaminated by fertilizer and other runoff, and the Jennings. flow, the water is contaminated by fertilizer and other runoff, and the The destruction and drainage of the Florida Everglades dates back to the 19th century. An extended drought occurred in the 1930s, Disclaimer  |  The Everglades gets a lot of its water from rainfall (somewhere around 60 inches per year on average). With plentiful crops, beef and dairy products assured, the state was set for the metropolitan and industrial expansion that … On July 4th, 1906, Florida began work on the first dredging project in south Florida, the North New River Canal in Fort Lauderdale. Everglades is one of nature's true masterpieces with its 4000 square miles of diverse scenery of pine and freshwater cypress forests, open prairie, and tropical Most people assume that when the settlers planted their roots here they began to drain the Everglades. The Drainage Filter re-channels the storm runoff by utilizing public-owned properties and the water will be collected and treated before arriving at its destination, the Everglades. Though Disston's canals did not drain, his land purchase primed the economy of Florida. Communities  |  People  |  hurricanes and a wet season responsible for 100 inches of rain, ending the were drowned and standing water was left in suburban areas for months. A national push for expansion and progress toward the latter part of the 19th century stimulated interest in draining the Everglades for agricultural use. world to experience its natural beauty. Much Minnie Moore-Willson’s opposition to drainage was born through her interactions with the Seminoles. The system begins near Orlando with the Kissimmee River, which discharges into the vast but shallow Lake Okeechobee. of this article was extracted from Draining and Development of the Everglades His engineers focused on digging canals from Lake Okeechobee but were inadequate. in 1947 prompted an unprecedented construction of canals throughout southern and Other Purposes (C&SF). Florida politicians continued to push for drainage and in the early 1900s, John W. Newman led several successful drainage projects in South Florida, some of which encroached on the Everglades. and with the wall preventing water leaving Lake Okeechobee and canals and Furthermore, the historical hydrology and low it and pumped it to the Atlantic Ocean or the Gulf of Mexico.Â. What led to the decline of the everglades ecosystem in Florida? Socio-economic importance The Everglades support major industries and provide South Florida’s drinking water, supporting the explo-sive development of one of the fastest growing and economically dynamic regions in the United States. The C&SF used four methods in flood from the Wikipedia internet site. 6 - Doris Davis Forman Wilderness Preserve, 9 - Liberty Park: The Park the People Built, 12 - Camp Telogia, Parkland's "Hidden Gem". of the dike were seen immediately. fax: 561.832.7965  |  Men such as William L. Stuckey established camps along the wild shores of Lake Okeechobee, and several fishing companies were founded – the million-dollar industry employed 1,500 people. Written by James Weiss; Edited by Ira Goldman; Parkland Historical Society President Jeff Schwartz; The Florida Home  |  As far back as 1847, promoters of south Florida real estate proposed “reclaiming” the Everglades – making it usable, salable, and profitable – by dredging a few canals to drain off excess water. 1930 and 1937, Hoover Dike was built around Lake Okeechobee’s edge. assist gravity. devices that delivered water to agricultural and newly developed urban areas. the Everglades was divided into sections separated by canals and water control Dredging of the land was the first step in reclaiming the Everglades. We just posted about a new batch of The Key West Citizen, but even more pages were just uploaded to Chronicling America!This batch includes January-December 1941, October-December 1942, January-August 1943, March-December 1945, January-December 1946, January-December 1947, and January-July 1949. However, he led efforts to drain the Everglades, and forced the other candidates to take a position on the issue. Known as Everglades Tropical National Park Committee, it was a group led by Ernest F. Coe and was dedicated to the idea of making a national park in the Everglades. May Mann Jennings, regardless of her husband, William Sherman Jennings’ interests in wiping out the natural ecosystem, worked to get Royal Palm Hammock in Paradise Key designated as a state park. Today the lake supports sportfishing and has been called the “Bass Fishing Capital of the World.” After the fishing industry died, farming took its place. From the middle of the nineteenth century to the middle of the twentieth century, the United States went through a period in which wetland removal was not questioned; it was considered the proper thing to do! wildlife-rich wetlands are half the size they were when the federal government saltwater mangrove swamps. Everglades is one of nature's true masterpieces with its 4000 square miles of diverse Figure 2. and with the wall preventing water leaving Lake Okeechobee and canals and In the southern Everglades, was  Formed over While he was still a child, he moved to Marion County, Florida with his family. Copyright  |  President Herbert Hoover ordered the Credits  |  In 1948, At its peak, the business shipped out an amazing 6.5 million pounds of catfish each year. The State of Florida formed the Everglades Drainage District in 1907 and sold large tracts, mostly to land companies, between 1908 and 1910, when they brought the first dredge to Lake Okeechobee. Florida. World War ll  |  When the boom turned to bust in 1929, in part because of devastating hurricanes in 1926 and 1928, all drainage activity in south Florida was stopped. Coinciding with Canals continue to serve an important function today by holding the overflow of rainwater. Actually, it was the United States military that began draining the Everglades to try and flush out the Seminole Indians. Within four years property values doubled, and the population increased significantly. in 1947 prompted an unprecedented construction of canals throughout southern Once the land was drained and the rich muck soil surfaced, people responded to the State’s promotion of the Everglades. Excess lake water periodically spilled over Lake Okeechobee's southern bank on to the Everglades, a huge freshwater marsh that gently led water from the lake toward Florida Bay at the southern Nevertheless, cities like Parkland The Everglades is a vast wetland ecosystem located in southern Florida, commonly known as the “River of Grass”.It serves as a hub for biodiversity, as it is home to many different walks of life (animals, plants, and microorganisms), some of which are rare, endangered, or native only to the Everglades. the Everglades was divided into sections separated by canals and water control and 1963, Everglades were divided into basins. Everglades National Park Levees and pumping stations--like the one at the This purchase started wheels turning that did not stop through lawsuits, government resolutions, land grants, studies, and contracts made and cancelled. started its draining projects in the 1920s. 96 Drainage of Organic Soils The Everglades ecosystem has, in fact, been badly degraded, despite the establishment of Everglades National Park in the southern Ever-glades in 1947. But by 1912 Lake Okeechobee had been fished out and the industry was gone. and, for the first time in south Florida's urban history, water shortages in The effects became parched. Progress  |  An extended drought occurred in the 1930s, animals, birds, fish, plants, and reptilian species. Between 1952 and 1954, a levee 100 miles long was built between 2002). became parched. After the Civil War, a Pennsylvania real estate developer named Hamilton Disston was interested in draining the Everglades for agriculture. times of drought. This surface was now converted to agricultural and urban uses, while the remaining parts of the Everglades were vastly altered by the hydrological changes entailed by … The canals also supplied a new means of transportation. Although there were no human casualties, cattle and deer Broward's promises sparked a land boom facilitated by blatant errors in an engineer's report, pressure from real estate developers, and the burgeoning tourist industry throughout south Florida . scenery of pine and freshwater cypress forests, open prairie, and tropical Settlers used them to reach their new land, and farmers used them to ship their produce to the eastern towns with larger populations and connections to the railroad. Site Map  |   The report provided the supporting information that eventually led to the passing of Senate Bill 338 in which the U.S. government officially authorized the Everglades drainage. But to create farmland, the swampy Everglades had to be drained. 4,000,000 people, efforts to drain the Everglades led to loss of nearly 65% of the original acreage (Kushlan 1989). historically nutrient-poor Everglades (McCormick et al. Severe hurricanes in 1926 and 1928 caused catastrophic damage and flooding from Lake Okeechobee. He also led efforts to reduce the amount of Committees in the Senate. draintheEverglades(U.S. Senate1911). Between Severe hurricanes in 1926 and 1928 caused catastrophic damage and flooding from Lake Okeechobee. Disston sold tracts of land for $5 an acre. Development throughout the last 50 years has led to many ecological problems in the everglades … Native Americans  |  the dedication of Everglades National Park, 1947 in south Florida saw two Box 4364, W.P.B., FL 33402  |  Everglades, owe their existence to almost 200 years of. , During the 1840s the Florida state legislature declared that the Everglades, long viewed as having no value, could be repurposed and turned into profitable farmland. President Herbert Hoover ordered the Although restoration projects are increasing freshwater flows to freshwater and marine wetlands of the Everglades (Arik et al. A pattern of political and financial motivation and a lack of understanding of the geography and ecology of the Everglades plagued the history of drainage projects. areas. Disston planned to drain the land, which stretched from Orlando to south of Lake Okeechobee, to expose the fertile muck that was perfect for growing crops. Soil sediment characterization and particulate P transport studies were conducted on three … levee (C-38) is on the eastern edge of the Everglades and the western edge of The State of Florida formed the Everglades Drainage District in 1907 and sold large tracts, mostly to land companies, between 1908 and 1910, when they brought the first dredge to Lake Okeechobee. A pattern of political and financial motivation and a lack of understanding of the geography and ecology of the Everglades plagued the history of drainage projects. Tustenegee  |  Following another population boom after World War II, Everglades, owe their existence to almost 200 years of  efforts of “draining the Everglades” to The effects The Everglades today receives less than one-third of its historic water Progress 02/03/95 to 09/30/03 Outputs Concerns regarding the quality of agricultural drainage from the Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA) in south Florida discharged into the downstream Everglades ecosystems led to a regulatory program to reduce phosphorus (P) loads coming out of the area. started its draining projects in the 1920s. In 1881 Hamilton Disston purchased 4,000,000 acres of land from the State of Florida for $1,000,000, or 25 cents per acre. In 1907, he formed the Everglades Drainage District so the affected counties could be taxed and pay for the drainage effort. Agriculture  |  management: levees, water storage areas, canal improvements, and large pumps to Links  |  from the Wikipedia internet site, www.wikipedia.org.  Marjory Stoneman Douglas, who made her home A national push for progress and expansion toward the latter part of the nineteenth century stimulated interest in draining the Everglades for agricultural use. America's Swamp: the Historical Everglades Project. Although the U.S. Congress had granted the Everglades land to the State of Florida in 1850, it wasn’t until 1903 that a patent solidified their title. Geography  |  Army Corps of Engineers to assist the communities surrounding the lake. [Picture Credit: http://rst.gsfc.nasa.gov/Sect3/Sect3_8.html]. When it starts raining over south Florida, it rains everywhere including on our largest lake, Lake Okeechobee. For Teachers  |  A monumental effort was undertaken to undo the damage done to the Everglades. The history of draining and development of the Everglades dates back to the 19th century. During his 1904 campaign to be elected governor, Napoleon Bonaparte Broward promised to drain the Everglades, and his later projects were more effective than Disston's. Further partial drainage of the Everglades helped to spur south Florida’s land boom in the 1920s, as more dry land became available for development and canals were dug to reach it. Drainage. This is the start of the most indirect way for water to flow into the Everglades. ditches removing other water, the Everglades Saving the Everglades William Sherman Jennings, May Mann Jennings husband, while in office from 1901 to 1905, led efforts to drain and reclaim Everglades’ lands for economic development. Florida. The Everglades is Rapidly growing Fort Lauderdale paid him tribute by naming Broward County after him (the town's original plan had been to name it Everglades County). According to historians, "From the middle of the nineteenth century to the middle of the twentieth century, the United States went through a period in which wetland removal was not questioned. stations and levees were built within three decades. traffic jams, school overcrowding, crime, overloaded sewage treatment plants Marjory Stoneman Douglas, who made her home in South Florida, was a staunch advocate for protection of the Everglades. In 1939, a million acres of Everglades burned. Following another population boom after. 1930 and 1937, Hoover Dike was built around Lake Okeechobee’s edge. The Drainage Filter creates a planning framework that benefits water quality, enhances living experience and preserves equestrian lifestyle through an aesthetic, dynamic, cultural and functional approach. Natural water flow from Lake Okeechobee to the gulf Drainage of wetlands for agriculture Decrease in N and P … Napoleon Bonaparte Broward made draining the Everglades region his main campaign. This bill represents the first siege in a long series of assaults to the Everglades ecosystem and is just one of the many important documents linked to Seminole history preserved in the museum’s archive. The top of the concrete post shown was at ground level when it was driven down to the underlying limestone catrrock in the 1920s. The massive drainage undertaken in the first half of the twentieth century had led to a reduction of the Everglades by half. Recognition of the negative impacts of the efforts to drain the Everglades led to the establishment of Everglades National Park in 1947. Army Corps of Engineers to assist the communities surrounding the lake. thousands of years, its waters and vegetation provide home to thousands of Further floods In 1916, he made a run for Governor, but lost the Democrat primary. only high school is named after her. visit: 300 N. Dixie Hwy, W.P.B., FL 33401, © 2009 Historical Society of Palm Beach County  |  all photos courtesy HSPBC unless otherwise noted. Much The Everglades today receives less than one-third of its historic water flow, the water is contaminated by fertilizer and other runoff, and the wildlife-rich wetlands are half the size they were when the federal government started its draining projects in the 1920s. The Everglades offers a rare chance to get off the beaten path and to get a taste of primordial Florida, which is a tonic: In a few minutes, you can … Congress approved the Central and Southern Florida Project for Flood Control Parkland’s devices that delivered water to agricultural and newly developed urban areas. Once the land was drained and the rich muck soil surfaced, people responded to the State’s promotion of the Everglades. Draining the swamps created rich farmland, but also left the area prone to flooding. provide farming and inhabitable land. Maps & Photos  |  The first industry in the Glades was fishing for catfish. The May Mann Jennings Papers complement those of the two Governors because of her advocacy of the drainage project, and also because of her marriage to Gov. decade-long drought. of the dike were seen immediately. Sign in|Recent Site Activity|Report Abuse|Print Page|Powered By Google Sites. These projects were triggered by Disston's example and consequently led to ecological decimation. Nevertheless, cities like Parkland Between Posts about everglades written by Sarah "Moxy" Moczygemba. Parkland and Coral Springs, just to the west of Heron Bay and the north/south Land in the Everglades was being sold for $15 an acre--a month after Broward died in 1910. The Everglades is a natural region of tropical wetlands in the southern portion of the U.S. state of Florida, comprising the southern half of a large drainage basin within the Neotropical realm.The ecosystem it forms is not presently found anywhere else on earth. Broward's promises sparked another land boom. "In 1908 inland drainage operations were begun; by 1928, the agricultural economic pattern of America's winter vegetable kingdom was fashioned in the Everglades. efforts of “draining the Everglades” to The drainage projects of the early 20th century uncov- ered the fertile “black gold” soil for farming by diverting the Everglades’ headwaters – Lake Okeechobee – to the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico, and later by channelizing the Everglades themselves. Prominent symptoms of the ecosystem decline in-clude an 80 percent reduction in wading bird populations since the Further floods Suburban areas for months minnie Moore-Willson ’ s wettest regions landscape and without consideration. A lot of its water from rainfall ( somewhere around 60 inches per year on average.. Effects it would have in 1948, Congress approved the Central and Florida... Drain, his land purchase primed the economy of Florida for $ 1 (. Was a staunch advocate for protection of the Everglades was divided into sections what led to the drainage of the everglades? by canals and hundreds of stations. The destruction and drainage of the twentieth century had what led to the drainage of the everglades? to the underlying limestone in! Or 25 cents per acre ) interest in draining the Everglades ecosystem in Florida the of! Everglades burned and hundreds of pumping stations and levees were built within three decades standing water left... And marine wetlands of the negative impacts of the Everglades, created a model for drainage following. When the settlers planted their roots here they began to drain the Everglades ( Arik et al named Hamilton was... Considered the proper thing to do. no human casualties, cattle and deer were and... Consequently led to the 19th century stimulated interest in draining the Everglades from the Wikipedia internet Site of. 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