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Title:
Implications of Rising Sea Level on Everglades Restoration
Authors:
Wanless, H. R.
Affiliation:
AA(Dept. Geological Sciences University of Miami, P.O. Box 249176, Coral Gables, FL 33124, United States ; )
Publication:
American Geophysical Union, Spring Meeting 2008, abstract #U31B-01
Publication Date:
12/2008
Origin:
AGU
AGU Keywords:
0481 Restoration, 1605 Abrupt/rapid climate change (4901, 8408), 1630 Impacts of global change (1225), 1641 Sea level change (1222, 1225, 4556), 1890 Wetlands (0497)
Abstract Copyright:
(c) 2008: American Geophysical Union
Bibliographic Code:
2008AGUFM.U31B..01M

Abstract

The strong likelihood of a significant rise in sea level during this century must be incorporated into the design of the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP) and its execution. With a warming Arctic and increased wind shear in the waters adjacent to Antarctica, accelerated ice melt of both Greenland and Antarctica has begun. With positive feedbacks, this melt appears irreversible on the century scale. Scientists of the Miami-Dade County Climate Change Task Force project that a global rise of sea level of at least 0.9-1.5 meters (3-5 feet) will occur by the end of the century. This anticipated rise will diminish the value of CERP unless (a) the design thoroughly incorporates a realistic sea level rise scenario and (b) there is a refocus of CERP's design to optimize water flow for wetland-community peat growth with the purpose of retarding saline encroachment. The goals of Everglades restoration must become (1) to provide an increase in water flowing at a gradually increasing elevation to permit rapid accumulation of robust organic peat beneath the freshwater wetland and (2) to actively manage the coastal mangrove wetland (e.g., aid hurricane recovery) to help it maintain a robust upwards-building peat margin. If this is done, the central and northern Everglades may survive as a healthy wetland habitat and provide fresh groundwater resources well into the next century. Actively building freshwater and mangrove peat and a dependable supply of freshwater are both critical to retarding saline encroachment up the Everglades depression. Without these, a 1.5 meter rise in sea level could move saline water nearly to Lake Okeechobee. Critical research questions and changes in management need to be addressed for this to succeed. The communities and conditions for optimal freshwater peat buildup must be documented and demonstrated. New management strategies must be designed and maintained to encourage rapid recovery of mangrove forests destroyed by hurricanes, including within National Parks. Water used by south Florida communities (agriculture, industry and residential) should be cleaned and recycled back into the aquifer system. Hydrologic modeling needs to focus on those areas along the Everglades' eastern margin most prone to saline encroachment with rising sea levels so as to design barriers (limited use of levees and pumping to maintain freshwater head) that will retard intrusion. The reality of a significantly rising sea level must be incorporated into all aspects of research, design and monitoring of CERP. Adaptive management must be reactivated and maintained as a foundation of this critically important national restoration plan.
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