Freshwater: Case study of the future possibilities for one wetland area Flashcards
Location
Kissimmee River
South Central Florida
How long is the drainage basin?
200 km
Home to what plants and animals?
wetland plants, fish and wading birds
Where is population of flora and fauna located?
population on 5km wide floodplain used to flooding
When was the river widened and channelised?
from 1962 to 1971
What happened after channelisation?
the river no longer reached bankfull discharge
how effective was channelisation at reducing flooding?
Somewhat effective at reducing flooding, but caused ecological problems such as the decline of Wading Birds.
how many people died in the 1920 flood?
Killed 2000 people and farmers demanded dams
what were the management problems?
- Its floodplain dried up after channelisation
- Pollution from kissimmee flowing into Okeechobee after channelisation- after channelisation Kissimmee accounted for 25% nitrogen and 20% of phosphorus pollution
- Fishing, bird watching and hunting tourism declined= economic cut off
When did the Kissimmee river restoration project begin?
•Kissimmee river restoration project began in 1999.
what did the restoration project aim to do?
- Aim to restore over 100km2 of river and wetland floodplain
- The river is being de-channelised by refilling flood canal and re-establish natural meandering course of river
- Already continuous meandering water flow re-established for 24 miles
Benefits of Restoration:
- The nutrient loads in Lake Okeechobee should be restored as more is absorbed into wetland
- Wading birds have returned
- Dissolved oxygen levels have doubled in restored sections= more fish
- Increased revenue from tourism
- Natural ecosystem is happy
Problems with restoration:
- Greater evaporation because more surface stores
- Increased flood risk
- River will be less navigable in dry season
- Restoration will cost $ 414 million
