Everglades Restoration Is Improving Conditions in Florida Bay
Updated: 7 hours ago
Florida Keys Free Press, September 10, 2026
The Everglades Foundation Chief Science Officer Dr. Steve Davis spoke to the Islamorada Village Council on Thursday, September 10th, 2026, about how Everglades restoration is delivering measurable benefits for Florida Bay, even during a severe drought. Infrastructure and operational improvements along the Tamiami Trail are allowing more freshwater to reach Shark River Slough and flow south through Everglades National Park.
Although the Everglades is experiencing a more severe drought in 2026 than it did in 2015, significantly more freshwater is reaching the ecosystem. From January through July 2026, approximately 24.1 billion gallons of water flowed beneath the Tamiami Trail, compared with only 2.2 billion gallons during the same period in 2015.
As The Everglades Foundation Chief Science Officer Dr. Davis explained, “As a result of 10 times more water going under those bridges of Tamiami Trail this year, we’re seeing the benefits of Everglades restoration.” This increased flow is helping protect Florida Bay from the extreme salinity conditions that contributed to widespread seagrass die-offs in 2015.
The progress offers encouraging evidence that Everglades restoration is already working, even before the completion of the Everglades Agricultural Area Reservoir. Expected to be completed in 2029, the reservoir will store, clean, and send more freshwater south to the Everglades and Florida Bay while supporting South Florida’s drinking water supply.
Read the full article by Florida Keys Free Press: HERE
On a related note, on September 17, The Everglades Foundation's Senior Restoration Scientist, Dr. Erik Stabenau, joined Keys Talk Radio's Good Morning Keys to discuss how ongoing restoration efforts are helping maintain stable salinity conditions in Florida Bay despite current drought conditions. Listen to the full interview below.
In this quick video update, Dr. Stabenau explains why recent rainfall doesn't tell the whole story after two years of drought. Much of that water is first replenishing the Biscayne Aquifer before it can flow south to Florida Bay. He also highlights how Everglades restoration projects are helping deliver more freshwater to the bay than during past droughts, supporting the ecosystem even under challenging conditions. Watch below.
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