Management
"Currently, the metaphor 'river of grass' and
the image of vast stands of saw grass that this metaphor suggests
represent the historic Everglades in the minds of most Americans.
The dominance of this metaphor is unfortunate and hinders restoration
of the complex wetlands system it so imperfectly describes."
Historian David McCally
Betsy Purdum
Uniform silhouette indicates tree island invaded
by Brazilian Pepper
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Betsy Purdum
Restored tree island
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The tree islands north of I-75 were damaged during past droughts,
when catastrophic wildfires burned native vegetation. Exotic plants,
especially Brazilian pepper, then invaded the sites. The Florida
Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is restoring many
of these damaged tree islands by implementing a prescribed burning
program to reduce fuel loading around the islands and to minimize
wildfire damage during droughts; by controlling and removing exotic
vegetation; and by re-vegetating with native plants. Bays, dahoon
holly, and maple are planted in the interior, and Carolina willows
and pond apples are planted around the edges. The FWC is also
providing the Army Corps of Engineers and the South
Florida Water Management District with hydroperiod recommendations
to protect tree islands in the future from excessive floods and
droughts.
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