Eric Draper
January 24, 2013
Presentation to Joint Meeting of the House State Affairs
Committee and Agriculture and Natural Resources
Subcommittee
Audubon
Sanctuaries and Science
Throughout the Greater
Everglades
Audubon Florida Everglades Conservation Work
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Founded by Theodore Roosevelt and others to
stop plumage hunts
110 years working to protect Everglades birds
Photo by UGArdener
A History of Protecting Birds in the Everglades
Hearty Audubon wardens have long
collected data on Everglades and Florida
Bay birds.
Audubon’s Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary
Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary is Florida’s
largest private eco-tourism destination with
over $1.5 million in annual business.
Photo by Dagmar
Ghost Orchid at Corkscrew Swamp
Every bloom helps the Florida economy as
people from around the world see these rare
flowers.
Wildlife Viewing is Big Business
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In 2006, wildlife viewing activities generated more than $5.2
billion in Florida.
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With 746,000 visitors per year, more people travel to Florida to
view wildlife than any other state.
Birds are the Everglades’ Measure and Treasure
Southern Bald Eagle
Wood Stork
Everglade Snail Kite
Roseate Spoonbill
The profound hydrologic alterations were accompanied by many changes in the biotic communities in
the ecosystem, including reductions and changes in the composition, distribution, and abundance of the
populations of wading birds, the most visible component of the Everglades biota and symbolic to many
stakeholders of the status of the entire ecosystem Today, the federal government has listed 67 plant
and animal species in South Florida as threatened or endangered, with many more included on state
lists. CISRERP 2012
Population trends are quite variable among the Everglades’ most-high-profile and threatened bird
species, but several downward population trends are quite clear and appear to be related to water
levels and their management within the southern Everglades project area. CISRERP 2008
Although most wading birds are not listed under the Endangered Species Act, with the exception of the
wood stork, they are considered important indicators of Everglades ecosystem functioning. CISRERP
2008.
When endangered bird populations decline to a few hundred or a few thousand individuals, their
resiliency to recover from natural perturbations is greatly reduced, further increasing their risk of
extinction due to natural climate and environmental variations. The status quo of flow conditions and
water schedules in the WCAs and Everglades National Park is not an option if the goal is to restore the
ecosystem and prevent the extinction of critically endangered species. Incomplete implementation of
emergency measures and failure to complete more major plans in a timely way increases the risks to
endangered species. Moreover it makes it more difficult and more expensive to recover them.
CISRERP 2008.
National Research Council Committee on Independent
Scientific Review of Everglades Restoration Progress
Ongoing delay in South Florida ecosystem restoration not only has postponed improvements to the
hydrologic condition but also has allowed ecological decline to continue. CISRERP 2008.
Biennial reports required by the US Congress
continue to reflect concern about ecological
losses in the Everglades.
2012 South Florida Wading Bird Report
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26,395 wading bird nests – down by 2/3rds from 2009 to 2012
Wading birds nest as seasonal wetlands dry out concentrating
forage fish. Restoration increases wading bird numbers.
Roseate Spoonbills – Restoration Good News
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Monitored nesting sites in Florida Bay produced 184 Roseate
Spoonbill nests in 2012 while the target is 1250.
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From 2005 and 2011 spoonbill nests steadily declined from
about 550 to just 69.
Photo by St. Lucie Audubon
Wood Storks – Improvement Needed in Traditional Home
The 2012 nesting season at Audubon’s Corkscrew Swamp
Sanctuary marked the third year when Wood Storks did
not nest. Previously, with 7000 nests, this colony was the
nation’s largest.
Pre-Restoration 90% decline in wading birds
Post drainage and pre-restoration
Everglades wetlands support just a fraction
of wading birds.
SFWMD
C-111 Spreader Canal Success Story
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Prevents freshwater from draining from Southern Everglades
wetlands
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Preyfish and other species that rely on estuarine conditions are
Everglade Snail Kite – Indicator Species in Decline
Another species that is characteristic of a
healthy Everglades is in steep decline due to
water management and food sources.
Activities Impact Lake Okeechobee’s Health
Constructed outlets replaced natural inflow streams, overflow marshes and sloughs. Lake levels, once determined
by rainfall, were now controlled by gates and locks. Extreme variations impacted grassy beds, especially in the
lake’s marshy west side. Flood control improvements also resulted in intense agricultural development around the
lake. Sugarcane and winter vegetables were planted south, and dairy farms and cattle ranches sprung up north.
These activities produced unnaturally high concentrations of nutrients, especially phosphorus which flowed or were
pumped with storm water in to the lake. When lake level were high, the water was discharged into estuaries east
The primary source of phosphorus loading to Lake
Okeechobee is agricultural, non-point source runoff
– from north of the lake – which upsets the balance
of natural flora and fauna in the lake ecosystems.
SFWMD
Section 373.4595 F.S. requires each permitted parcel to
achieve a specific off-site total phosphorus discharge
concentration limitation in an effort to achieve annual
Lake Okeechobee phosphorus loading targets.
The specific Lake Okeechobee regulatory program
responsibilities:
• Identify the locations of surface water discharge from
public or private properties into Lake O tributaries.
• Measure and document the total phosphorus
concentration in the surface water discharged
• Document compliance with appropriate phosphorus
concentration limits
• Require Best Management Plans to reduce
phosphorus runoff from properties exceeding
phosphorus limits.
Phosphorus Imports to Lake Okeechobee
The Lake Okeechobee Protection Plan was
authorized by an act of the Florida
Legislature.
Photo by RJ Wiley
Secure Working Lands in the Everglades Headwaters
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Lake Okeechobee watershed private lands are key to restoration
goals.
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The Rural and Family Lands Protection Act, Wetlands Reserve
Program, and Dispersed Water Management keep water and
Audubon’s Everglades Recommendations
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Ongoing state funding for restoration projects
Passage of federal authorization for projects – WRDA
Improve protection for wetlands and invest in reversing over-drained wetlands
Improve BMPs for Lake Okeechobee to control nutrients
Focus on water conservation before water supply development
Support the Everglades water quality plan and require better BMPs for the EAA