DOCSLIB.ORG

Everglades National Park Geologic Resource Evaluation Report

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Everglades National Park Geologic Resource Evaluation Report National Park Service U.S. Department of the Interior Natural Resource Program Center Everglades National Park Geologic Resource Evaluation Report Natural Resource Report NPS/NRPC/GRD/NRR—2008/047 THIS PAGE: Mangroves, Everglades NP ON THE COVER: Aerial view of Everglades NP NPS Photos Everglades National Park Geologic Resource Evaluation Report Natural Resource Report NPS/NRPC/GRD/NRR—2008/047 Geologic Resources Division Natural Resource Program Center P.O. Box 25287 Denver, Colorado 80225 September 2008 U.S. Department of the Interior Washington, D.C. The Natural Resource Publication series addresses natural resource topics that are of interest and applicability to a broad readership in the National Park Service and to others in the management of natural resources, including the scientific community, the public, and the NPS conservation and environmental constituencies. Manuscripts are peer-reviewed to ensure that the information is scientifically credible, technically accurate, appropriately written for the intended audience, and is designed and published in a professional manner. Natural Resource Reports are the designated medium for disseminating high priority, current natural resource management information with managerial application. The series targets a general, diverse audience, and may contain NPS policy considerations or address sensitive issues of management applicability. Examples of the diverse array of reports published in this series include vital signs monitoring plans; "how to" resource management papers; proceedings of resource management workshops or conferences; annual reports of resource programs or divisions of the Natural Resource Program Center; resource action plans; fact sheets; and regularly-published newsletters. Views, statements, findings, conclusions, recommendations and data in this report are solely those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect views and policies of the U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service. Mention of trade names or commercial products does not constitute endorsement or recommendation for use by the National Park Service. Printed copies of reports in these series may be produced in a limited quantity and they are only available as long as the supply lasts. This report is also available online from the Geologic Resource Evaluation Program website (http://www2.nature.nps.gov/geology/inventory/gre_publications) and the Natural Resource Publication Management website (http://www.nature.nps.gov/publications/NRPM/ index.cfm) or by sending a request to the address on the back cover. Please cite this publication as: Thornberry-Ehrlich, T. 2008. Everglades National Park Geologic Resource Evaluation Report. Natural Resource Report NPS/NRPC/GRD/NRR—2008/047. National Park Service, Denver, Colorado. NPS D-345, September 2008 Table of Contents List of Figures .............................................................................................................. iv Executive Summary ...................................................................................................... 1 Introduction ................................................................................................................... 2 Purpose of the Geologic Resource Evaluation Program ............................................................................................2 Geologic Setting .........................................................................................................................................................2 Geologic Issues............................................................................................................. 6 Anthropogenic Impacts...............................................................................................................................................6 Aquifer Characteristics and Groundwater Flow Dynamics..........................................................................................7 Storm-influenced Sediment Transport Dynamics .......................................................................................................7 Near Coastal Response to Sea Level Rise ................................................................................................................8 Atmospheric Deposition of African Dust .....................................................................................................................9 Miscellaneous Issues and General Geologic Research Potential...............................................................................9 Geologic Features and Processes............................................................................. 12 Karst Landscape.......................................................................................................................................................12 Florida Bay ...............................................................................................................................................................12 Tree Islands, Hardwood Hammocks, and Rock Ridges ...........................................................................................13 Hydrogeology ...........................................................................................................................................................14 Map Unit Properties .................................................................................................... 20 Everglades National Park Geologic Map Unit Notes ................................................................................................21 Map Unit Properties Table........................................................................................................................................22 Geologic History.......................................................................................................... 25 Glossary....................................................................................................................... 30 References................................................................................................................... 33 Appendix A: Geologic Map Graphic .......................................................................... 35 Appendix B: Scoping Summary................................................................................. 37 Attachment 1: Geologic Resource Evaluation Products CD EVER Geologic Resource Evaluation Report iii List of Figures Figure 1: Everglades National Park Location and Ecosystem Map................................................................................4 Figure 2: Map of physiographic subsections in South Florida. .......................................................................................5 Figure 3: Trench dug through surficial geologic units...................................................................................................10 Figure 4: Reddish layer of African dust deposition in bedrock .....................................................................................11 Figure 5: Development of a karst landscape................................................................................................................16 Figure 7: Map of bottom types of Florida Bay ..............................................................................................................17 Figure 8: View of a rock ridge.......................................................................................................................................18 Figure 9: Cross sectional view of South Florida subsurface.........................................................................................19 Figure 10: Geologic time scale.....................................................................................................................................27 Figure 11: Evolution of the landscape in the Florida Platform area..............................................................................28 Figure 12: Freshwater limestone marl..........................................................................................................................30 iv NPS Geologic Resources Division Executive Summary This report accompanies the digital geologic map for Everglades National Park in Florida, which the Geologic Resources Division produced in collaboration with its partners. It contains information relevant to resource management and scientific research. The environment of south Florida including the fire danger, and seasonal hurricanes. Aquifers at various Everglades is among the most unique on earth. Habitats stratigraphic levels including the Biscayne unconfined at Everglades National Park include open marine areas, surficial aquifer support the habitats at Everglades. These estuaries, mangrove zones, buttonwood ridges, coastal vast water resources attracted human populations to the prairies, freshwater sloughs, freshwater marl prairies, area as well. cypress groves, tree islands, hardwood hammocks, and pinelands. Geology has a profound influence on these From the late 1800s, human development has steadily environments. It affects surface water flow and increased in south Florida. Drastic measures were taken contributes to climate, hydrology, and topography in to drain swamps for agriculture and urban development. Florida. Geologic units and structures provide the Canals, ditches, dams, and levees forever altered the foundation for the development of all ecosystems. once steady, slow flow
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Spatial Variation in Predation in the Plio-Pleistocene Pinecrest Beds, Florida, USA
    Spatial Variation in Predation in the Plio-Pleistocene Pinecrest Beds, Florida, USA Frank L. Forcino, Holly J. Hurding-Jones, and Emily S. Stafford No. 4 Eastern Paleontologist 2019 EASTERN PALEONTOLOGIST Board of Editors ♦ The Eastern Paleontologist is a peer-reviewed journal that publishes articles focusing on the Brian Axsmith, University of South Alabama, paleontology of eastern North America (ISSN Mobile, AL 2475-5117 [online]). Manuscripts based on studies Richard Bailey, Northeastern University, Boston, outside of this region that provide information on MA aspects of paleontology within this region may be David Bohaska, Smithsonian Institution, Wash- considered at the Editor’s discretion. ington, DC ♦ Manuscript subject matter - The journal wel- Michael E. Burns, Jacksonville State University, comes manuscripts based on paleontological Jacksonville, AL discoveries of terrestrial, freshwater, and marine Laura Cotton, Florida Museum of Natural His- organisms and their communities. Manuscript tory, Gainesville, FL subjects may include paleozoology, paleobotany, Dana J. Ehret, New Jersey State Museum, Tren- micropaleontology, systematics/taxonomy and ton, NJ specimen-based research, paleoecology (includ- Robert Feranec, New York State Museum, Al- ing trace fossils), paleoenvironments, paleobio- bany, NY geography, and paleoclimate. Steven E. Fields, Culture and Heritage Museums, ♦ It offers article-by-article online publication Rock Hill, SC for prompt distribution to a global audience. Timothy J. Gaudin, University of Tennessee, ♦ It offers authors the option of publishing large Chattanooga, TN files such as data tables, and audio and video Richard Michael Gramly, American Society for clips as online supplemental files. Amateur Archaeologists, North Andover, MA ♦ Special issues - The Eastern Paleontologist Russell Graham, College of Earth and Mineral welcomes proposals for special issues that are Sciences, University Park, PA based on conference proceedings or on a series Alex Hastings, Virginia Museum of Natural His- of invitational articles.
    [Show full text]
  • Florida Forever Work Plan
    South Florida Water Management District Florida Forever Work Plan December 13, 2001 Florida Forever Work Plan Contributors South Florida Water Management District Florida Forever Work Plan November 2001 Contributors Susan Coughanour Bill Helfferich Jenni Hiscock Lewis Hornung Blair Littlejohn Victor Lopez Gregg Mallinger Victor Mullen Agnes Ramsey Wanda Caffie-Simpson Paul Whalen i Florida Forever Work Plan Contributors ii Florida Forever Work Plan Executive Summary EXECUTIVE SUMMARY In 1999, the Florida Forever program was created, which authorized the issuance of bonds in an amount not to exceed $3 billion for acquisitions of land and water areas. This revenue is to be used for the purposes of restoration, conservation, recreation, water resource development, historical preservation and capital improvements to such land and water areas. This program is intended to accomplish environmental restoration, enhance public access and recreational enjoyment, promote long-term management goals, and facilitate water resource development. The requirements for developing The Florida Forever Water Management District Work Plan are contained in Section (s.) 373.199, Florida Statutes (F.S). The provision states that the water management districts are to create a five-year plan that identifies projects meeting specific criteria. In developing their project lists, each district is to integrate its surface water improvement and management plans, Save Our Rivers (SOR) land acquisition lists, stormwater management projects, proposed water resource development projects, proposed water body restoration projects, and other properties or activities that would assist in meeting the goals of Florida Forever. The initial plan was submitted on June 1, 2001 to the President of the Senate, Speaker of the House of Representatives, and Secretary of the Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP).
    [Show full text]
  • Wilderness on the Edge: a History of Everglades National Park
    Wilderness on the Edge: A History of Everglades National Park Robert W Blythe Chicago, Illinois 2017 Prepared under the National Park Service/Organization of American Historians cooperative agreement Table of Contents List of Figures iii Preface xi Acknowledgements xiii Abbreviations and Acronyms Used in Footnotes xv Chapter 1: The Everglades to the 1920s 1 Chapter 2: Early Conservation Efforts in the Everglades 40 Chapter 3: The Movement for a National Park in the Everglades 62 Chapter 4: The Long and Winding Road to Park Establishment 92 Chapter 5: First a Wildlife Refuge, Then a National Park 131 Chapter 6: Land Acquisition 150 Chapter 7: Developing the Park 176 Chapter 8: The Water Needs of a Wetland Park: From Establishment (1947) to Congress’s Water Guarantee (1970) 213 Chapter 9: Water Issues, 1970 to 1992: The Rise of Environmentalism and the Path to the Restudy of the C&SF Project 237 Chapter 10: Wilderness Values and Wilderness Designations 270 Chapter 11: Park Science 288 Chapter 12: Wildlife, Native Plants, and Endangered Species 309 Chapter 13: Marine Fisheries, Fisheries Management, and Florida Bay 353 Chapter 14: Control of Invasive Species and Native Pests 373 Chapter 15: Wildland Fire 398 Chapter 16: Hurricanes and Storms 416 Chapter 17: Archeological and Historic Resources 430 Chapter 18: Museum Collection and Library 449 Chapter 19: Relationships with Cultural Communities 466 Chapter 20: Interpretive and Educational Programs 492 Chapter 21: Resource and Visitor Protection 526 Chapter 22: Relationships with the Military
    [Show full text]
  • Everglades National Park and the Seminole Problem
    EVERGLADES NATIONAL PARK 21 7 Invaders and Swamps Large numbers of Americans began migrating into south Florida during the late nineteenth century after railroads had cut through the forests and wetlands below Lake Okeechobee. By the 1880s engineers and land developers began promoting drainage projects, convinced that technology could transform this water-sogged country into land suitable for agriculture. At the turn of the cen- EVERGLADES NATIONAL PARK AND THE tury, steam shovels and dredges hissed and wheezed their way into the Ever- glades, bent on draining the Southeast's last wilderness. They were the latest of SEMlNOLE PROBLEM many intruders. Although Spanish explorers had arrived on the Florida coast early in the sixteenth century, Spain's imperial toehold never grew beyond a few fragile It seems we can't do anything but harm to those people even outposts. Inland remained mysterious, a cartographic void, El Laguno del Es- when we try to help them. pirito Santo. Following Spain, the British too had little success colonizing the -Old Man Temple, Key Largo, 1948 interior. After several centuries, all that Europeans had established were a few scattered coastal forts. Nonetheless, Europe's hand fell heavily through disease and warfare upon the aboriginal Xmucuan, Apalachee, and Calusa people. By 1700 the peninsula's interior and both coasts were almost devoid of Indians. Swollen by tropical rains and overflowing every summer for millennia, Lake The vacuum did not last long. Creeks from Georgia and Alabama soon Filtered Okeechobee releases a sheet of water that drains south over grass-covered marl into Florida's panhandle and beyond, occupying native hunting grounds.
    [Show full text]
  • Biscayne Aquifer, Florida Groundwater Provides Nearly 50 Percent of the Nation’S Drinking Water
    National Water Quality Program National Water-Quality Assessment Project Groundwater Quality in the Biscayne Aquifer, Florida Groundwater provides nearly 50 percent of the Nation’s drinking water. To help protect this vital resource, the U.S. Geological Survey - (USGS) National Water-Quality Assessment (NAWQA) Project assesses groundwater quality in aquifers that are important sources of drinking water (Burow and Belitz, 2014). The Biscayne aquifer constitutes one of the important aquifers being evaluated. Background Overview of Water Quality The Biscayne aquifer underlies an area of about 4,000 square miles in southeastern Florida. About 4 million people live in this area, and the Biscayne aquifer is the primary source of drinking water with about 700 million gallons per day (Mgal/d) withdrawn for public supply in 2000 Inorganic Organic (Maupin and Barber, 2005; Arnold and others, 2020a). The study area for the Biscayne aquifer constituents constituents underlies much of Broward and Miami-Dade Counties in southeastern Florida and includes 3 the cities of Miami and Fort Lauderdale. Most of the area overlying the aquifer is developed 5 and consists of about 63 percent urban and 9 percent agricultural land use. The remaining area 17 (28 percent) is undeveloped (Homer and others, 2015). The Biscayne aquifer is an unconfined, surficial aquifer made up of shallow, highly 80 95 permeable limestone as well as some sandstone units (Miller, 1990). Because of the shallow depth of the units that make up this aquifer, the connection to surface water is an important aspect of the hydrogeology of the Biscayne aquifer (Miller, 1990). A system of canals and levees are used to manage the freshwater resources of southern Florida.
    [Show full text]
  • State of Florida Department Of
    STATE OF FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION Herschel T. Vinyard Jr., Secretary REGULATORY PROGRAMS Jeff Littlejohn, Deputy Secretary FLORIDA GEOLOGICAL SURVEY Jonathan D. Arthur, State Geologist and Director OPEN-FILE REPORT 97 Text to accompany geologic map of the western portion of the USGS Inverness 30 x 60 minute quadrangle, central Florida By Christopher P. Williams and Richard C. Green 2012 ISSN (1058-1391) This geologic map was funded in part by the USGS National Cooperative Geologic Mapping Program under assistance award number G11AC20418 in Federal fiscal year 2011 TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT .................................................................................................................................... 1 INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................................................... 1 Methods .......................................................................................................................................... 3 Previous Work ................................................................................................................................ 5 GEOLOGIC SUMMARY .............................................................................................................. 5 Structure .......................................................................................................................................... 7 Geomorphology ...........................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Development of Environmental Measures for Assessing Effects of Water Level Changes on Lakes and Wetlands in the Central Florida Water Initiative Area
    Development of Environmental Measures for Assessing Effects of Water Level Changes on Lakes and Wetlands in the Central Florida Water Initiative Area Central Florida Water Initiative’s Environmental Measures Team Final Report November, 2013 Attachments A‐H Environmental Measures Team Final Report Attachment A – Land Development Index (LDI) and Cross‐Walk of Florida Land Use Cover and Classification System (FLUCCS) Codes to LDI Values November, 2013 Environmental Measures Team Final Report Attachment A – Land Development Index (LDI) Tony Janicki, Ph.D. Janicki Environmental, Inc. Land Use and the Land Development Index The Land Development Index (LDI) (Brown et al. 2003) was estimated for each of the EMT study sites using land use data and a development intensity measure derived from energy use per unit area. The LDI is an estimate of the potential impacts from human‐dominated activities that are experienced by ecological systems within those watersheds. Initially, each of the wetland sites was overlain on the ECFT model grid. Then, the land uses (i.e., FLUCCS codes) within the ECFT model grid were identified and the contributing areas enumerated. Each of the land uses was assigned an LDI coefficient (Table A‐1). The overall LDI ranking was calculated as an area weighted average. Using the GIS, total area and percent of total area occupied by each of the land uses were determined and then the LDI was calculated as follows: LDITotal = Σ %LUi * LDIi Where: LDItotal = LDI ranking for wetland site, %LUi= percent of the total area of influence in land use I, and LDIi = landscape development intensity coefficient for land use i.
    [Show full text]
  • Recommended Minimum Flows for the Lower Peace River and Proposed Minimum Flows Lower Shell Creek, Draft Report
    Recommended Minimum Flows for the Lower Peace River and Proposed Minimum Flows Lower Shell Creek, Draft Report November 30, 2020 Recommended Minimum Flows for the Lower Peace River and Proposed Minimum Flows for Lower Shell Creek, Draft Report November 30, 2020 Yonas Ghile, PhD, PH, Lead Hydrologist XinJian Chen, PhD, PE, Chief Professional Engineer Douglas A. Leeper, MFLs Program Lead Chris Anastasiou, PhD, Chief Water Quality Scientist Kristina Deak, PhD, Staff Environmental Scientist Southwest Florida Water Management District 2379 Broad Street Brooksville, Florida 34604-6899 The Southwest Florida Water Management District (District) does not discriminate on the basis of disability. This nondiscrimination policy involves every aspect of the District’s functions, including access to and participation in the District’s programs, services, and activities. Anyone requiring reasonable accommodation, or who would like information as to the existence and location of accessible services, activities, and facilities, as provided for in the Americans with Disabilities Act, should contact Donna Eisenbeis, Sr. Performance Management Professional, at 2379 Broad St., Brooksville, FL 34604-6899; telephone (352) 796-7211 or 1-800- 423-1476 (FL only), ext. 4706; or email [email protected]. If you are hearing or speech impaired, please contact the agency using the Florida Relay Service, 1-800-955-8771 (TDD) or 1-800-955-8770 (Voice). If requested, appropriate auxiliary aids and services will be provided at any public meeting, forum, or event of the District. In the event of a complaint, please follow the grievance procedure located at WaterMatters.org/ADA. i Table of Contents Acronym List Table......................................................................................................... vii Conversion Unit Table ..................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Exhibit Specimen List FLORIDA SUBMERGED the Cretaceous, Paleocene, and Eocene (145 to 34 Million Years Ago) PARADISE ISLAND
    Exhibit Specimen List FLORIDA SUBMERGED The Cretaceous, Paleocene, and Eocene (145 to 34 million years ago) FLORIDA FORMATIONS Avon Park Formation, Dolostone from Eocene time; Citrus County, Florida; with echinoid sand dollar fossil (Periarchus lyelli); specimen from Florida Geological Survey Avon Park Formation, Limestone from Eocene time; Citrus County, Florida; with organic layers containing seagrass remains from formation in shallow marine environment; specimen from Florida Geological Survey Ocala Limestone (Upper), Limestone from Eocene time; Jackson County, Florida; with foraminifera; specimen from Florida Geological Survey Ocala Limestone (Lower), Limestone from Eocene time; Citrus County, Florida; specimens from Tanner Collection OTHER Anhydrite, Evaporite from early Cenozoic time; Unknown location, Florida; from subsurface core, showing evaporite sequence, older than Avon Park Formation; specimen from Florida Geological Survey FOSSILS Tethyan Gastropod Fossil, (Velates floridanus); In Ocala Limestone from Eocene time; Barge Canal spoil island, Levy County, Florida; specimen from Tanner Collection Echinoid Sea Biscuit Fossils, (Eupatagus antillarum); In Ocala Limestone from Eocene time; Barge Canal spoil island, Levy County, Florida; specimens from Tanner Collection Echinoid Sea Biscuit Fossils, (Eupatagus antillarum); In Ocala Limestone from Eocene time; Mouth of Withlacoochee River, Levy County, Florida; specimens from John Sacha Collection PARADISE ISLAND The Oligocene (34 to 23 million years ago) FLORIDA FORMATIONS Suwannee
    [Show full text]
  • TTC Teacher Training Center
    1 2017 PTC Summit on Teaching Boys General Information for Participants 6-8 July 2017 For TTC, CTC or ½ PTC credit IMPORTANT REMINDER: YOU MUST BRING A LAPTOP TO YOUR SESSION Location The Turnberry Isle Hotel and Resort, 19999 West Country Club Drive Aventura, Florida 33180 USA Phone: +1 305 932 6200 • Hotel Reservations Fax: +1 305 933 6554 • http://turnberryislemiami.com/ To I-95 Mt. Sinai Clinic Grocery/Pharmacy Turnberry Isle Hotel PTC Institutes Mall PTC Miami 2017 Summit on Teaching Boys General Information 1 2 ARRIVAL PTC 3-day Summit on Teaching Boys • Course registration is from 8:00am-8:30am on the first date of the course in hotel conference area. Check your welcome letter or the front desk for details. • Hotel check in begins at 4:00pm on the day BEFORE the course. If you arrive prior to 4:00 and your room is not ready, the hotel will allow you to store your luggage until your hotel room is available. • Instruction on day one begins right after registration, starting at 8:30am. Arrive in plenty of time to attend this first session. It is essential to the rest of the course. Note: You must pay a security deposit to the hotel at check-in of either $100 secured by a personal credit card, a card you are authorized to use with a signed permission letter, or $50 in cash to cover incidentals. This deposit is refundable upon check out if not used. WHAT TO BRING • Completed preparation assignments • Laptop computer with wireless internet access; bring power adapter if required; download course materials before your arrive • A sweater or sweatshirt (all training rooms are air-conditioned) • An umbrella • Dress for the course is casual VISAS Check early to determine if you need a visa to travel to the USA • For visa information visit: https://travel.state.gov/content/visas/en/visit/visitor.html • The PTC can provide a visa support letter and payment receipt should you require them.
    [Show full text]
  • Chapter 1: the Everglades to the 1920S Introduction
    Chapter 1: The Everglades to the 1920s Introduction The Everglades is a vast wetland, 40 to 50 miles wide and 100 miles long. Prior to the twentieth century, the Everglades occupied most of the Florida peninsula south of Lake Okeechobee.1 Originally about 4,000 square miles in extent, the Everglades included extensive sawgrass marshes dotted with tree islands, wet prairies, sloughs, ponds, rivers, and creeks. Since the 1880s, the Everglades has been drained by canals, compartmentalized behind levees, and partially transformed by agricultural and urban development. Although water depths and flows have been dramatically altered and its spatial extent reduced, the Everglades today remains the only subtropical ecosystem in the United States and one of the most extensive wetland systems in the world. Everglades National Park embraces about one-fourth of the original Everglades plus some ecologically distinct adjacent areas. These adjacent areas include slightly elevated uplands, coastal mangrove forests, and bays, notably Florida Bay. Everglades National Park has been recognized as a World Heritage Site, an International Biosphere Re- serve, and a Wetland of International Importance. In this work, the term Everglades or Everglades Basin will be reserved for the wetland ecosystem (past and present) run- ning between the slightly higher ground to the east and west. The term South Florida will be used for the broader area running from the Kississimee River Valley to the toe of the peninsula.2 Early in the twentieth century, a magazine article noted of the Everglades that “the region is not exactly land, and it is not exactly water.”3 The presence of water covering the land to varying depths through all or a major portion of the year is the defining feature of the Everglades.
    [Show full text]
  • GIS Database Development for South Florida's National Parks And
    PEER.REVIEWED ARIICTE GISDatabase Development forSouth Florida's NationalPafts and Preserves R. Welch, M. Remillard,and R.F. Doren Abstract Introduction The University of Georgia's Center for Remote Sensing and The Center for RemoteSensing and Mapping Science(cnvs) Mapping Science (CRMS)is working in conjunction with the at The University of Georgiais working with the U.S. Depart- U.S. Department of Interior's Nationol Park Service (NpS)to ment of Interior's National Park Service (Npslto utilize a construct a geographic information system (cts) database combination of satellite imaging, aerial photographic,Global and associated detailed vegetation maps for the Everglades Positioning System (cps), and geographicinformation system National Park, Biscayne National Park, Big Cypress National (cIs) technologies to develop a databasein GISformat for Preserve,and the Flofida Panther Refuge. Preservation of over one million hectares (ha) of ecologically unique Ever- these south Florida wetland areas, threatened by urban ex- glades wetlands in south Florida. Although the southern tip pansion, nutrient runoff from agricultural \ands, encroach- of Florida was the entry point for early explorers into the ment of exotic plant species,and increasedrecrcational use, New World, the Evergladesremain one of the last portions of is a topic of national concern, Development of the database the United Statesto be accuratelymapped at any level of de- and maps is made possible by the integration of Global Posi- tail. tioning System (cesJ, satellite remote sensing, air photo inter- This vast, flat terrain, wetland study area includes Ever- pretation, and helicopter-assistedfield verification gladesNational Park, BiscayneNationai Park, Big Cypress procedures. A digital satellite image mosaic prepared from National Preserve,and the Florida Panther Refuge(Figure 1).
    [Show full text]