Everglades Problems

Have you ever heard somebody complain about a problem but never do anything to fix it? That is what is happening to the Florida Everglades. Over a hundred years ago American settlers drained and annihilated this to be national park that was home to countless species of wildlife. Many of the problems still continue today and are about the the water supply.

There are many problems that the Everglades is facing. First, according to the sources one and two, humans have drained and reduced the Everglades to nearly 50% of its original size. This new land has been turned into residential, industrial, and agricultural areas, each with its own problems (sources 1,2, and 3). Next, as stated by source 3, humans are redirecting the water that goes
Source 1 declares that the reduction of the Everglades has decreased the quantity and diversity of the wildlife there significantly. When the natural flow of water was cut off and redirected it had a staggering effect on the natural ecosystem (source 2). This redirected water was then sent to agricultural farmland and residential areas which pollutes the water that does go to the Everglades (sources 1 and 2).

These issues are quite severe and challenging. Thankfully however, the government and mutliple agencies have and are taking steps to solve the mess that they have created. Source 1 directly states that “in 1934, Congress designated the Everglades as a national park.” This was the first step in protecting the Everglades. Currently, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is forming a 1 billion dollar prodject to help save the Everglades (source 3).

In conclusion, there are many severe man-made issues affecting the Everglades. Prior to 1905 the Everglades was beautiful and untouched but now it is knee deep in some nasty stuff. Hopefully humans can solve the problems humans have caused, but right now if the Everglades could talk it would say “feels bad