Restoring a River of Grass

The Florida Bay sits at the bottom of Florida’s peninsula and has long been known for its rich biodiversity and active fisheries.

But in recent years, the saltwater of the Florida Bay has been getting saltier and more polluted. And it’s taking a toll on the biodiversity of the bay. The problem starts far from the bay in Lake Okeechobee and continues through the Everglades—the “river of grass” that once flowed from the lake to the bay, bringing freshwater and nutrients. Because so much of the Everglades’ water has been diverted for agriculture and booming communities, little freshwater is left for the Florida Bay, and the water that does reach the bay often carries contaminants and excess nutrients.

So scientists, community groups, politicians, environmental groups, and others are joining forces to help save the bay and its fisheries by saving the Everglades upstream. They’re working to find ways to stabilize the Everglades water flow and to help reduce the amount of pollutants in the system. It’s one of the biggest restoration efforts ever attempted, and, if successful, will benefit far more than the fisheries of the Florida Bay.