Everglades

Everglades /(*?***"" Everglades National Park Florida . " - . . , - — National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior A There are no other Everglades in the world. N This landscape is unlike any other—beautiful, mysterious, and wild. Here, tropical and temperate species flourish side-by-side in an environment, part Caribbean, part North American. The essence of the Everglades is found in the sharp, ragged edges of sawgrass blades, an alligator's deep bellow, the high-stepping dance of wading birds, the waterway labyrinth of the Ten Thousand Islands, and the sparkling, aquamarine waters of Florida Bay. Marjory StonemarvDouglas Water is the lifeblood of the Everglades. In summer thunder clouds carry the sweet smell of rain, signaling a time of renewal. This slow-moving river is dependent on the seasonal rise and fall of fresh water. It is also dependent on people. For over 100 years we dredged, dammed, and drained the landscape, controlling the ebb and flow of this life-giving force. In doing so, we endangered the Everglades and the life dependent on it. Today there is hope. Critical restoration projects are attempting to emulate the natural flow of clean water to revitalize altered habitats. Everglades is one of a few national parks in the United States established to protect unparalleled biological diversity. It is also the largest subtropical wilderness in the United States, an International Biosphere Reserve, a World Heritage Site, and a Wetland of International Importance. The future of the Everglades is in our hands. Sunrise on the Pa-hay-okee Trail ©GLENN GARDNER Past Mistakes, Present Challenges, Future Hopes For hundreds of years t h e Everglades was v i e w e d as a mysterious place, an u n k n o w n , uncharted wilderness t o most outsiders t h a t extended f r o m t h e Kissimmee River t o Lake Okeechobee, over low-lying land t o Biscayne Bay, t h e Ten Thousand Islands, and Florida Bay (diagram at right). This mosaic o f marshes, sawgrass prairies, and forests—home t o an a b u n dance o f birds, mammals, fish, and reptiles—was a prolific ecosystem t h a t replenished t h e aquifer, t h e source o f clean w a t e r f o r south Florida. Historic Water Flow kee, perhaps understood t h e EverCurrent Water Flow glades best. M a n y non-Indians m o v e d t o t h e area in t h e 1800s and early 1900s a n d v i e w e d this sensitive w e t l a n d as a worthless s w a m p . Dams, floodgates, canals, levees, and roads w e r e built, diverting precious w a t e r f r o m natural wetlands, reducing freshwater f l o w t o productive estuaries, creating land f o r agriculture, g r o w i n g communities, and setting t h e stage f o r ecological problems. Soon t h e Everglades was drying up. To complicate matters, invasive nonnative plants and animals, began t o spread and c o m p e t e w i t h native species. Everglades National Park was created in 1947, b u t outside its borders people w a g e d w a r o n this w e t l a n d . The American Indians w h o lived h e r e — t h e early Calusa and Tequesta, and later t h e Seminole and Miccosu- Projected global changes in t e m p e r a t u r e and precipitation may c o n t i n u e t o alter t h e Everglades. Sea level rise erodes cultural sites, changes habitats, and increases salinit y in estuaries and urban w a t e r supplies. Today t h e Comprehensive Everglades Rest o r a t i o n Plan is w o r k i n g t o mimic t h e historic natural f l o w o f water. Early results are encouraging—birds are r e t u r n i n g t o nest and nonnative plants have been removed in t h e w e t l a n d s restoration west o f Royal Palm. Restoration efforts are helping t h e park address regional challenges and t h e global issue o f climate change. You can help by reducing your carbon f o o t p r i n t . Major Influences Everglades National Park's collage of habitats (below) is dynamic. Water, elevation, fire, and hurricanes are major influences on the health of the Everglades. Water Water f l o w is essential t o all habitats in t h e Everglades. There are t w o main seasons here—wet and dry. The w e t season (May-November) is a time of abundance and renewal w h e n wildlife disperses, following t h e f l o o d of rainwater across the landscape. During t h e dry season wildlife congregates in and around ever-shrinking water sources such as ponds and gator holes. sun-lit environments typical of freshwater marshes and pine rocklands. Elevation A l t h o u g h measured in inches instead of feet, elevation defines each habitat, f r o m the lowest freshwater marsh t o higher tropical hardwood hammocks. Hurricanes Powerful hurricane winds and storm surges can destroy vegetation and re-shape shorelines, but these storms contribute t o the park's biodiversity by opening coastal landscapes t h a t favor certain plants and animals. Black skimmer O PHILIP SIDRAN Roseate spoonbill © PHILIP SIDRAN Fire Natural and prescribed fires help create the mosaic of habitats f o u n d in t h e Everglades and maintains t h e open, Marine and Estuarine Mangroves Freshwater Marsh Cypress Pine Rockland Tropical Hardwood Hammocks Marine and estuarine waters extend from the Ten Thousand Islands to Florida Bay. Seagrass beds lie beneath these waters, providing critical food and shelter for marine life. The health of this environment is dependent on management of freshwater flows by people and is key to sustaining productive fisheries outside the park. Mangroves are found in coastal channels and winding rivers where fresh and salt water intermingle. Mangrove forests stabilize coastal land, sustain nurseries for marine life, and provide nesting habitat for wading birds. These forests are the first line of defense against storm winds and surges. The Everglades freshwater marsh is a wide, shallow, slow-moving "river of grass," the iconic ecosystem of the park. Two major drainages—the broad ihark River Slough (pronounced slew) and the narrow Taylor Slough—are the main avenues for freshwater flow. Cypress trees thrive in flooded conditions. Cypress forests often grow in the shape of a dome, with taller trees in the center of the dome, or in a linear "strand" where tree growth follows the flow of water. A longlived, deciduous wetland species, cypress can live as long as 600 years. Pine Rockland, the rarest and most diverse habitat in the Everglades, occurs on the highest elevations, along a limestone ridge on the east coast f south Florida. This habitat includes slash pine forest, an understory of saw palmetto, and over 200 varieties of tropical plants. These dense island forests grow on slightly elevated land and rarely flood. Temperate trees, such as live oak, are outnumbered by tropical mahogany, gumbo-limbo, mastic, and others. Ferns and air plants thrive here. Natural moats around hammocks help protect them from fire. Exploring the Everglades Camp at a primitive site on the Gulf Coast. View the Everglades from the Observation Tower. Walk along the Anhinga Trail. Gulf Coast Shark Valley Ernest F. Coe and Park Road Gulf Coast Visitor Center, staffed daily, is located 4.75 miles south of US 41 (Tamiami Trail) on State Road 29 in Everglades City. It offers information, exhibits, wilderness permits, sales items, picnicking, restrooms, and ranger-led activities in winter. Marinas and boat launch facilities are located near the visitor center. Motorboat and paddling trips into nearby waters provide opportunities to see dolphins, birds, manatees, and other wildlife. Phone: 239-695-3311. Canoeing/Kayaking provide paddlers with a special experience to view wildlife in the Ten Thousand Islands. Canoe and kayak rentals are located in the lower leveI_ of the visitor center. Check with rangers for weather conditions and safety information. Shark Valley Visitor Center, staffed daily, is located on US 41 (Tamiami Trail) 30 miles west of the Florida Turnpike exit for SW 8th Street. It offers information, exhibits, safes items, restrooms, and rangerled activities in winter. Phone:305-221-8776 Sandfly Island Trail 2.4-mi. paddle to trailhead; 0.9-mi. walk features mangrove and tropical hardwood hammock habitats and cultural sites. Bobcat Boardwalk 0.4-mi. Walk from the visitor center through a sawgrass marsh and a bayhead. O t t e r Cave 1.0-mi. Walk from the visitor center through a tropical hardwood hammock. Boat Tours, offered daily, provide a glimpse into the mangrove estuary and the Ten Thousand Islands. Information and tickets are available in the lower level of the visitor center. Call 239-695-2591 for information. Tram Road 15.0-mi. Bike or walk this road to see alligators, birds, turtles, fish, and the vast Everglades wilderness. Bicycling Rentals a v a i l - _ able oFbring your own. Permits required for groups of 20 or more. Helmets required for ages 16 and under. Tram Tour Take a guided two-hour tour, offered daily, to see wildlife and learn about this freshwater ecosystem. Call 305-221-8455 for reservations. Fee. Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center, staffed daily, is located at 40001 State Road 9336, 11 miles from Homestead, Florida. It offers information, film, exhibits, sales items, and reltrobms. The M a i n Park Road is a scenic 38-mile drive from the Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center to Flamingo. We recommend these stops: Royal Palm, staffed daily, is 4 miles past the Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center. It offers information, sales items, restrooms and ranger-led activities in winter. Trails Anhinga Trail 0.8-mi. A must see, with great opportunities to view birds, alligators, turtles, and fish, especially in winter. Paddle through the mangroves. Gumbo-Limbo Trail 0.4-mi. Explore this dense tropical hardwood hammock. Pinelands Trail 0.4-mi. Walk through this subtropical pine forestTtfie" most diverse habitat in south Florida. Pa-hay-okee Overlook 0.2-mi. View the vast Everglades wilderness. Mahogany Hammock Trail 0.4-mi. Walk through this jungle-like island forest. Paurotis Pond Nesting site for anhinga, wood stork, great egret, white ibis, roseate spoonbill, and other species. West Lake Trail 0.4-mi. Explore a mangrove forest and see trees that grow in salt water. Watch a beautiful sunset. Flamingo Flamingo Visitor Center, staffed daily in winter and intermittently the rest of the year, is located 38 miles past the Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center. It offers ranger-led activities and sales items in winter, and exhibits, information, restrooms, and wilderness permits year-round. Call 239-695-2945 for hours. Boat Tours Daily narrated excursions into Florida Bay and mangrove estuary depart from the Flamingo Marina. Concession Services Marina, store, gas station, and food service in winter. Call 239-6953101 for information. More Information can be excellent at nearby Mrazek and Eco Ponds. At low tide, birds congregate on the mudflats in front of the visitor center. Canoeing/Kayaking InfoFffTatTofrand trail maps are available in the visitor center. Ask rangers for safety information and weather conditions. Suggested paddling routes include Nine Mile Pond, a 5.5-mi. loop, and trips into Florida Bay. Wildlife V i e w i n g American crocodiles and manatees may be found around the Flamingo Marina. At certain times bird viewing Great blue heron Everglades Ecosystems Marine and Estuarine Marjory Stoneman Douglas Wilderness South Florida is one of the nation's fastest growing urban areas with six million residents. It is also home to a remarkable wilderness. The Marjory Stoneman Douglas Wilderness Area preserves nearly 1.3 million acres of marine estuary, mangrove and cypress forests, hard- wood hammock, and sawgrass prairie and is the largest wilderness east of the Mississippi River. Royal Palm Pinelands Homestead, FL Pa-hay-okee Overlook Mahogany Hammock Nine Mile Pond West Lake Flamingo Visitor Center Florida Bay Ranger Station Miami International Airport Shark Valley Visitor Center Gulf Coast Visitor Center Key West 4mi 7mi 11mi 13mi 20mi 27mi 31 mi 38mi 38mi 45m; 50mi 92m; 735m; Wilderness once encircled humans. Now we encircle it. Wilderness gives us a glimpse of what America once was. 6km 11km 18km 21km 32km 43km 50km 61km 61km 72km 80km 148km 277km | Message to Boaters Do not use this map for navigation. Navigational Ocean Survey charts are essential for safe boating. Charts are available in most communities around the park and throughout the Keys. Knowing the draft (depth) and limits of your boat is critical. as is the ability to read and utilize nautical charts. • Keys and beaches in Florida Bay are closed to landings unless otherwise designated. • Commercial fishing is prohibited in the park. • To protect important sea grass beds, Pole/ Troll Zones have been established and are subject to special regulation. • Recreational fishing requires a license in both fresh water and salt water. • A permit is required for backcountry camping. Coastal Marsh Mangrove Cypress Coastal Prairie Freshwater Slough For Your Safety Bring water, insect repellent, and sunscreen. Supervise small children at all times. This is a wilderness area, wildlife moves about freely. Do not feed or approach wildlife. Be aware of alligators] poisonous plants, and snakes. Fishing Ask at a visitor center or check the park website for fishing regulations. Prohibited Drones, Jet Skis, water-skiing and offroad vehicles are all prohibited in t i t * park. Accessibility We strive to make our facilities, services, Camping Drive-in camping and programs accessible to is available at Long Pine Key all. For information go to a and Flamingo. Get more in- visitor center, ask a ranger, formation at visitor centers call, or check our website. and the park website. Firearms Florida state law Explore Further The park applies to firearms in the offers wilderness camping, park. Hunting is prohibited. greater solitude on longer trails, outstanding night More Information skies, and much more. For Everglades National Park things to do, ask a ranger or 40001 State Road 9336 visit the park website. Homestead, FL 33034-6733 305-242-7700 Pets Please control pets on www.nps.gov/ever a six-foot leash. They are permitted on public roads, To learn more about nationcampgrounds, picnic areas, al parks, visit www.nps.gov. maintained grounds, and boats. Temperatures are exNational treme. Do not leave pets in • Park Foundation. a parked car. Join the park community. www.nationalparks.org Emergencies call GPO2015-368 437/30437 New in 2015 Printed on recycled paper. 1-800-788-0511 Pineland Freshwater Marl Prairie Hardwood Hammock