Restoring the River of Grass: The Engineering Behind Everglades Recovery

The Florida Everglades, once a vast expanse of wetlands stretching across South Florida, have been drastically altered by human activity over the past century. Engineering interventions, agricultural expansion, and urban development have disrupted the natural hydrology of this unique ecosystem. The Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP), approved in 2000, is a multibillion-dollar, multi-decade effort aimed at reversing these damages. From geotechnical stabilization to hydrological engineering, the restoration of the Everglades presents some of the most complex environmental and civil engineering challenges in the world.

Geotechnical Engineering and Land Stability

One of the primary geotechnical challenges in Everglades restoration is stabilizing the subsiding land and mitigating soil compaction caused by decades of artificial drainage. The drying of peat soils, which once formed the foundation of this wetland, has led to land subsidence in many areas. As the organic soil decomposes and oxidizes when exposed to air, the ground level continues to drop, making it more difficult to restore natural water flow. Geotechnical engineers are exploring methods such as controlled flooding and soil stabilization techniques to counteract this degradation.

Additionally, roadways like the Tamiami Trail have acted as unintended levees, blocking the historical flow of water from Lake Okeechobee to the Everglades. Engineers have addressed this issue by constructing elevated bridge sections along the highway, allowing water to move freely through the ecosystem.

Hydrological Engineering and Water Management

A critical component of Everglades restoration is managing the region’s complex water flow. Historically, rainwater would slowly percolate through the ecosystem, providing consistent hydration to its vast wetlands. However, human-made canals and levees have redirected much of this flow, leading to excessive water retention in some areas while causing drought-like conditions in others.

The Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA) Reservoir Project, spearheaded by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the South Florida Water Management District, aims to capture excess water from Lake Okeechobee and treat it before releasing it into the Everglades. This project includes the construction of a 10,500-acre reservoir and a stormwater treatment area designed to remove excess phosphorus and other pollutants before reintroducing water to the natural ecosystem.

Water quality remains a persistent challenge, as phosphorus from agricultural runoff continues to disrupt the balance of the ecosystem. High phosphorus levels contribute to toxic algal blooms and encourage the growth of invasive plant species that outcompete native vegetation. Environmental engineers are working on nutrient reduction strategies, including chemical treatments, expanded stormwater treatment areas, and enhanced natural filtration through engineered wetlands.

The Role of Climate Adaptation in Everglades Engineering

Sea level rise and saltwater intrusion pose additional complications for restoration efforts. As ocean levels rise, saltwater is pushing further inland, threatening freshwater ecosystems and contaminating drinking water supplies. One approach to mitigating this issue is the use of freshwater flow restoration to create a hydraulic barrier against saltwater intrusion. This requires precisely controlled water releases to maintain a delicate balance between freshwater retention and flood prevention.

Furthermore, climate change is altering rainfall patterns, leading to periods of excessive flooding followed by extended droughts. Engineers are incorporating climate adaptation models into restoration planning, designing resilient infrastructure capable of managing both extremes. This includes advanced water storage systems, adaptive drainage solutions, and flexible flow regulation strategies.

Future Challenges and Opportunities

With over $23 billion allocated for Everglades restoration, the sheer scale of this initiative makes it the largest ecological restoration project in the world. While significant progress has been made, including the resurgence of native species and improvements in water flow, challenges remain in securing long-term funding, mitigating unintended environmental impacts, and ensuring that restoration efforts are sustainable in the face of ongoing climate change.

As engineers continue to develop innovative solutions in geotechnical stabilization, water management, and environmental restoration, the Everglades stand as both a cautionary tale of human environmental impact and a testament to the possibilities of large-scale ecological recovery through engineering ingenuity.

References

• Florida Department of Environmental Protection (2024) Everglades Restoration Progress Report, Tallahassee: FDEP. Available at: https://www.floridadep.gov [Accessed 12 March 2025].

• National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (2024) Progress Toward Restoring the Everglades: The Eighth Biennial Review, Washington, D.C.: The National Academies Press. Available at: https://nap.nationalacademies.org [Accessed 12 March 2025].

• South Florida Water Management District (2024) Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP) Annual Report, West Palm Beach: SFWMD. Available at: https://www.sfwmd.gov [Accessed 12 March 2025].

• U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (2024) Everglades Agricultural Area Reservoir Project Fact Sheet, Jacksonville: USACE. Available at: https://www.usace.army.mil [Accessed 12 March 2025].

• Kominoski, J. and Travieso, R. (2024) ‘Hydrological changes and restoration strategies in the Everglades’, Journal of Environmental Management, 315(1), pp. 102-118. doi:10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.102118.

• University of Florida Water Institute (2024) Climate Adaptation Strategies for Everglades Restoration, Gainesville: UF Water Institute. Available at: https://waterinstitute.ufl.edu [Accessed 12 March 2025].

• U.S. Geological Survey (2024) Saltwater Intrusion and Sea-Level Rise in the Everglades: A Data Report, Reston: USGS. Available at: https://www.usgs.gov [Accessed 12 March 2025].

• Friends of the Everglades (2024) Challenges and Opportunities in the Everglades Restoration Effort, Miami: Friends of the Everglades. Available at: https://www.everglades.org [Accessed 12 March 2025].