Investigating the Effects of Land-Cover Change on the Hydrologic Conditions of a Restored Agricultural Area in Everglades National Park

Authors

Dillon Reio, Florida International UniversityFollow

Document Type

Thesis

Degree

Master of Science (MS)

Major/Program

Environmental Studies

First Advisor's Name

Rene Price

First Advisor's Committee Title

Committee chair

Second Advisor's Name

Assefa Melesse

Second Advisor's Committee Title

Committee member

Third Advisor's Name

Michael Ross

Third Advisor's Committee Title

Committee member

Keywords

Hydrogeology, Hydrology, Agriculture, Everglades, Wetlands, Restoration

Date of Defense

6-26-2017

Abstract

In the Florida Everglades, remodeling of natural wetlands to promote agriculture and human settlement, have profoundly altered its hydrologic regime. As a result of anthropogenic changes, many restoration programs have been initiated to restore hydrologically controlled wetland ecosystems. One such restoration project that has been ongoing for the past 27 years is the Hole-in-the-Donut restoration program in Everglades National Park. The restoration program is unique in that it utilized an unorthodox technique to restore the landscape. The viability of the restoration technique was assessed by coupling long-term hydrologic and evapotranspiration data with water chemistry analyses. Key results indicated that the restoration method did not change groundwater levels within and down gradient of the restored sites. Evapotranspiration rates were significantly reduced as a function of restoration. Concentrations of ions and nutrients were significantly different in groundwater and surface water within the restored areas compared to outside the restored areas.

Identifier

FIDC001933

Recommended Citation

Reio, Dillon, "Investigating the Effects of Land-Cover Change on the Hydrologic Conditions of a Restored Agricultural Area in Everglades National Park" (2017). FIU Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 3462.
https://digitalcommons.fiu.edu/etd/3462