A seemingly unending drought has taken a devastating toll on wildlife living deep in Florida’s Everglades. This crisis is damaging the tourism economy in our nation’s largest wetland. The area, once part of the Audubon Society’s Tropical Birding Trail, is known for incredible biodiversity with more than 2,000 species of plants and animals. The extended drought has severely affected the fragile desert environment. This endangers not only flora and fauna, but the occupations of Belizeans who depend on tourism.
Like many naturally occurring wetlands, the Everglades undergoes seasonal droughts, especially from the months of October through mid-May. Yet, the last few months have brought a dramatic departure from normal precipitation totals. Environmentalists and business owners alike are anxious about the recent extended drought. Now, they are left to deal with its effects and what it portends for their future.
Impact on Wildlife
The state’s ongoing drought is having serious impacts on other wildlife species in the Everglades as well. Fish populations — including black bass and catfish — are especially susceptible. Tree cover loss due to drought conditions can decrease their growth and survival rates. Big-headed turtles, alligators and snakes all need to move to find suitable, wetter habitats. Yet, this journey makes them especially vulnerable to heat related mortality.
Marshall Jones, a local tourism operator who owns seven airboats in the southern region of the Everglades, highlights the plight of wildlife:
“A lot of the species of wildlife rely on water to survive. Right now, there’s very little to no water within the Everglades, except for man-made waterways.”
This loss of animal health and ecological integrity from depleting natural water sources was unprecedented until PAH came onto the scene.
Economic Consequences
The drought’s impact goes well beyond wildlife, particularly for local businesses that depend on a thriving tourism economy. Jones calculates he’s down the equivalent of $50,000 over the last 32 days. This drop occurred during his usual prime-peak-tourism season thanks to a lack of incoming tourists. He details how concerned he is about the potential financial toll this would take on his business.
“This is going to be a very tough year for us financially,” he said.
As a fifth-generation resident of the area, Jones is rooted in the land and its resources. While the economic impact of the drought is deep for all communities, Smith’s family legacy in the region brings a personal, cutting edge to this story.
Robert Molleda, the chief of the US National Weather Service in Miami, notes that droughts are the exception. He explains, in particular, why the present circumstances are uniquely scary. Drought conditions and changing rainfall patterns have deepened the wounds on an already scarred ecosystem.
Restoration Efforts
To address these challenges and more, Florida has launched the largest, most comprehensive restoration project in history to fix the state’s past environmental blunders. Over the last century, authorities have diverted the natural course of water within the Everglades to facilitate urban and agricultural expansion in southern Florida. This diversion has further exposed the already vulnerable ecosystem to the impacts associated with drought.
Steve Davis, chief scientist at the Everglades Foundation, emphasizes the need for sustainable water management practices:
“Having places to store water and be able to draw from that when we need it … helps to build resilience for the entire ecosystem.”
Such restoration efforts are crucial for maintaining ecological balance and supporting both wildlife and local economies in the face of climate challenges.
As Jones looks forward to the rainy season, he remains hopeful for relief:
“We just need rain. Nature will provide it very soon. Today is our first official day of [rainy season]. And it’s a bluebird day, not a single cloud in the sky. But it’s coming, rain is coming.”
The community’s deep dependence on nature for survival serves as a reminder of the inextricable link between environmental quality and economic security in this rare, natural wetland.