Everglades Hydrology Quiz
Explore the unique hydrology of the Everglades, focusing on sheet flow, the impact of canals, and essential restoration efforts (10 questions).
Everglades Hydrology Quiz: Quick Study Notes
The Everglades, often called the “River of Grass,” is a unique wetland ecosystem defined by its hydrology. Understanding sheet flow, the impact of historical canal construction, and current restoration efforts is crucial to appreciating this vital natural treasure. This quiz and study guide delve into the core hydrological principles that govern the Everglades.
Definition: Slow, wide, shallow movement of water across a vast, nearly flat landscape.
Importance: Sustains sawgrass prairies and diverse wildlife.
Direction: Historically from Lake Okeechobee south to Florida Bay.
Motivation: Drainage for agriculture and urban development in the early 20th century.
Extent: Thousands of miles of canals and levees built.
Consequences: Disrupted natural water flow, fragmented habitats.
Water Diversion: Redirected freshwater to coasts, reducing flow to the southern Everglades.
Saltwater Intrusion: Lowered freshwater tables near coasts allowed saltwater to move inland.
Nutrient Pollution: Canals became conduits for agricultural runoff, leading to eutrophication.
Goal: Re-establish natural water flow, quantity, quality, and timing.
Methods: Removing or modifying levees, filling canals, building new water storage and treatment areas, creating flow-ways.
Key Project: Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP).
Key Takeaways
- Sheet flow is the defining hydrological characteristic of the Everglades, vital for its ecosystem.
- Historical canal construction dramatically altered the Everglades’ natural water flow, leading to widespread ecological damage.
- Canals caused habitat fragmentation, saltwater intrusion, and nutrient pollution.
- Everglades restoration aims to reverse these changes by restoring more natural sheet flow patterns.
- Key restoration methods include modifying infrastructure (filling canals, removing levees) and managing water levels.
- The health of the Everglades is directly tied to the quantity, quality, timing, and distribution of its freshwater.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is sheet flow in the context of the Everglades?
Sheet flow refers to the slow, diffuse movement of a broad, shallow layer of water across the vast, flat landscape of the Everglades, rather than through defined rivers or channels. It is crucial for sustaining the ecosystem’s unique habitats.
Why were canals built in the Everglades?
Canals were primarily constructed in the early to mid-20th century to drain land for agricultural development (especially sugarcane) and urban expansion. The goal was to reclaim wetlands for human use.
How have canals impacted the Everglades’ hydrology?
Canals rapidly drain freshwater from the interior to the coasts, reducing the natural sheet flow, altering water depths and hydroperiods, and contributing to saltwater intrusion in coastal areas. They also act as conduits for nutrient pollution.
What is the main goal of Everglades restoration concerning hydrology?
The central goal is to restore the “right amount of water, of the right quality, at the right time, to the right places” to re-establish natural water flow patterns, especially sheet flow, and reverse ecological degradation caused by drainage.
What are some basic methods used in Everglades hydrological restoration?
Restoration methods include filling sections of canals, removing or breaching levees to allow water to spread naturally, constructing new water storage areas (reservoirs, stormwater treatment areas), and creating new flow-ways to mimic historical sheet flow.
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