The Everglades serves as the habitat for diverse species of wildlife and plant life. It also contributes to South Florida's water supply, flood control, and recreation. The Everglades ecological system is unique in the world and one of Florida's great treasures . . and it is endangered.
In the '40s and '50s, optimists guessed that by the year 2000, maybe two million people would live in Southern Florida. Today, 7.5 million call southern Florida home! The population is projected to double in the next 50 years.
Water Supplies Stretched
On average, each one of us uses 175 gallons of water a day (in our homes and yards), which translates to 63,875 gallons a year per person! Most of our drinking water comes from wells and aquifers, which are replenished by rain. Tourism contributes a lot to our economy, but the tens of millions of visitors arriving each year also add to the ever-growing demand for clean, drinkable water. With all this growth, and a limited supply of fresh water, even our water rich state needs to conserve.
Yesterday & Today
Everglades the Problems
