Management
South Florida Water Management District
Drought
|
South Florida Water Management District
Muck Fire
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In July 2001, water from Stormwater Treatment Area 5 (STA 5)
began to be discharged into the Rotenberger WMA to restore a more
natural water regime. STA 5 is part of 35,000 acres of engineered
wetlands designed to capture and thus reduce phosphorus in the
runoff from the vast sugarcane fields south of Lake Okeechobee.
Water flows from Rotenberger south to the water conservation area,
Everglades National Park, and Florida Bay. Prior to the beginning
of hydrologic restoration, the area suffered from droughts and
frequent fires. The new water regime should increase the numbers
of wading birds and decrease the extent of invasive brush. Deer
and hogs will probably decrease as a result of wetter conditions,
although some of the areas impacted by muck fires may develop
into open water sloughs favored by waterfowl. Fishing is also
expected to improve.
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