Everything You Need to Know About Everglades Restoration
- The Everglades Foundation
- Aug 29
- 7 min read
Updated: Oct 6
August 29, 2025
Table of Contents
First, the basics: What is the Everglades and why should we protect it?
What is the Everglades?
Spanning more than 2 million acres, the Everglades is the largest subtropical wilderness in North America. This vast – and unique – ecosystem provides drinking water to millions in South Florida, supports nine distinct habitat types, is home to more than 2,000 plant and animal species, offers protection from extreme weather, and sequesters carbon.
Commonly known as the “River of Grass” for its slow-moving sheet flow of water, the Everglades powers Florida’s economy, drives tourism, real estate, and commercial and recreational fishing throughout the region.
Why is the Everglades important?
The Everglades is vital to Florida’s people, economy, and environment – here are just a few reasons why:
It’s a Source of Freshwater – Roughly 9 million people – about one in three Floridians – live in the 16 counties that make up the Greater Everglades ecosystem and rely on its clean water. Everglades wetlands also recharge the Biscayne Aquifer, which is the drinking water source for Miami-Dade, Broward, and Monroe counties in South Florida.
It Improves Our Quality of Life – The Everglades is a haven for outdoor recreation including boating, fishing, kayaking, camping, birding, and more. Over one million people visit Everglades National Park annually. Clean water from the Everglades also supports regional industries and tourism that bring billions of dollars into the South Florida economy.
It’s a Globally Unique Ecosystem and Biodiversity Hotspot – The Everglades is a World Heritage Site, an International Biosphere Reserve, and a Wetland of International Importance. It provides essential habitat to more than 2,000 plant and animal species, including more than 70 species that are federally endangered or threatened. Everglades National Park is known as the only place in the world where alligators and crocodiles coexist.
It Supports Florida’s Economy – The Everglades powers Florida’s Clean Water Economy – tourism, real estate, recreation, and hospitality sectors that depend on clean freshwater. Our first-of-its-kind 2025 economic study revealed that over 50 years, the Everglades will contribute $1 trillion in ecosystem services that support real estate, biodiversity, tourism and other key elements of Florida’s economy.
It Protects Us From Extreme Weather – The Everglades’ mangrove forests and wetlands act as natural barriers from extreme weather like hurricanes, absorbing storm surges and retaining water. When storm surges with high water levels approach our coast, thick belts of mangroves absorb and reduce the height of the water level, protecting the homes and communities behind them from extreme flooding.
What are the biggest threats to the Everglades?
Everglades National Park is among the most endangered national parks in the U.S., and is recognized by the UNESCO World Heritage Centre as a Site in Danger. Here are five of its biggest threats:
Interrupted Water Flow – The River of Grass no longer flows as it once did. Thousands of miles of canals, levees and berms divert at least two-thirds of freshwater rainfall east and west for flood control and irrigation, rather than flowing naturally to the southernmost tip of the Everglades in Florida Bay.
Nutrient Pollution and Water Quality – Fertilizers found in agricultural and urban runoff introduce excess amounts of nutrients like phosphorus into the Everglades, which is an oligotrophic, or “low nutrient” system. This pollution disrupts the delicate balance of the Everglades’ aquatic systems, affecting people, wildlife, and plants that depend on clean, freshwater flow.
Algae Blooms, Drought, and Wildfires – During the Everglades wet season from April to November, nutrient-laden excess water from Lake Okeechobee is discharged east and west, fueling toxic algae blooms. During the dry season, the Everglades is left parched, increasing the risk of wildfires and habitat loss. 2025 drought conditions and Everglades wildfires in South Florida served as a critical reminder for the urgency for restoration.
Development – The Everglades is now less than half its original size due to the drainage, channelization, and flood control necessary to support agriculture, population growth and industrial development. Check out this short video to learn about some of the history of development the Everglades, and how South Florida’s canal system works.
What is the goal of the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan, aka "CERP"?
The Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP) is a joint federal-state effort authorized by Congress in 2000 to "restore, preserve, and protect the south Florida ecosystem" while supporting water supply, flood protection, and water quality.
With a timeline spanning 30+ years, CERP is the largest ecological restoration project in U.S. history and in the world. It’s a 50/50 partnership between the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the South Florida Water Management District that includes 68 project components.
How does Everglades Restoration improve the ecosystem's health?
Improved Water Flow – CERP, and other Everglades projects will help restore the natural southerly flow of water from Lake Okeechobee into the Everglades, breathing life back into the ecosystem. Its project components will allow water managers to store and clean billions of gallons of excess Lake Okeechobee water during the rainy season and provide clean fresh water during the dry season when it’s needed.
This improved water flow to the south will reduce polluted discharges from Lake Okeechobee to Florida’s east and west coasts, improve water salinity levels in Florida Bay, reduce risk of wildfires in the dry season, support biodiversity, and strengthen flood control.
Less Toxic Blue-Green Algae and Red Tide – The Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA) Reservoir – known as the “crown jewel” of Everglades restoration – will reduce nutrient-rich discharges to Florida's east and west coasts from Lake Okeechobee by up to 55%. The high concentration of nutrients in these discharges often lead to toxic algae blooms and destructive red tide outbreaks that can pose health risks to nearby communities, devastate wildlife, and harm tourism that is critical to these regions’ economies.
Wildlife Makes a Comeback – Everglades restoration allows species to return to – and thrive in – their natural habitats. The Tamiami Trail bridges, for example, improved habitat for a wide variety of wildlife, from the native freshwater apple snail to wading birds and alligators. Following Kissimmee River restoration, biologists have found that eight bird species – including the iconic white ibis, little blue heron, and great egret – have returned. Restoration has also allowed crocodiles to rebound from a population of less than 300 in 1975, to an estimated 2,000–3,000 crocodiles thriving in Florida today.
What are the key Everglades restoration projects?
The Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan includes 68 separate public works projects, all to restore the natural southerly flow of water into the Everglades. Here are several Everglades restoration projects that are completed or underway:
The Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA) Reservoir Project – Set to be larger than the Island of Manhattan, the EAA Reservoir Project will include:
A 10,500-acre reservoir (under construction)
A 6,500-acre engineered wetland (complete)
Total capacity to hold 78 billion gallons of water
A 2025 agreement between the state of Florida and the Federal government has expedited the EAA Reservoir’s completion date to 2029.
The C-43 West Basin Storage Reservoir (Complete) – Located west of Lake Okeechobee, the C-43 Reservoir will have the capacity to hold up to 55 billion gallons of water and reduce harmful flows to the Caloosahatchee Estuary while providing much-needed freshwater to the estuary during the dry season. The reservoir’s capacity to reduce wet season deliveries and improve water quality is expected to reduce toxic algae blooms on Florida’s west coast, protecting nearby communities, wildlife, and the local economy.
The C-44 Reservoir and Treatment Area (Complete) – East of Lake Okeechobee, this project reduces nutrient pollution and toxic algae blooms into the St. Lucie Estuary and Indian River Lagoon – the most biodiverse estuary in the continental U.S.
Herbert Hoover Dike Repairs (Complete) – This 143-mile earthen dam around Lake Okeechobee was rehabilitated in early 2023. The repairs include:
Strengthening flood protection
Allowing for safer lake water management
Tamiami Trail Bridges (US-41) (Nearly Complete) – The Tamiami Trail reduced water flow into Everglades National Park for decades. New bridges (3.5 miles total) now allow water to flow freely south, restoring habitat and improving dry-season conditions.
The Picayune Strand Project (Nearly Complete) – This was the first CERP project to begin construction and, once complete, it will restore 55,000+ acres of wetlands in Southwest Florida by:
Removing roads
Plugging canals
Reestablishing sheet flow
What's Next For Everglades Restoration, And What Can You Do?
As we celebrate the momentum and progress in restoring America’s Everglades, it’s important to remember: finishing the job requires our continued commitment. Advocating for federal and state funding, coordinating and accelerating restoration projects, and engaging with scientists, decisionmakers, and community leaders remains critical.
Whether it’s sharing the wonder of the Everglades with your favorite student or educator through our free PreK-12 Everglades Literacy Program resources or speaking to local leaders about the importance of Everglades restoration, everyone has a role to play. With continued advocacy and bipartisan action, we can protect this one-of-a-kind ecosystem and be the generation that restores the Everglades.
Want to learn more?
You’re in the right place. For more than 30 years, The Everglades Foundation has been the premier organization fighting to restore and protect the precious Everglades ecosystem through science, advocacy, and education.
Join the movement to restore and protect the global treasure that is America’s Everglades. Sign up to learn more. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, and X (formerly Twitter). Give a gift of any amount you can to support our mission at EvergladesFoundation.org/Donate.