Project Objective

The primary objective of this research is to investigate the recent attempt by the USGS South Florida Ecosystem Program to construct a comprehensive model of the hydrologic system in the South Florida Everglades and the surrounding watershed areas. The scope of this proposed model includes:

• flows into the Florida Bay and the Atlantic Ocean
• groundwater flows into and out of the wetland areas
• overland flow, especially as affected by vegetative resistance
• evapotranspiration
• saltwater intrusion
• transport characteristics of the various flows

Information Sources

The primary source for this research will be data from the USGS relating to the South Florida Ecosystem Program. Many steps in the model design have already been completed and specific data is available. However, for other aspects site testing is still underway and theoretical models have yet to be verified. In these cases, analysis will concentrate on the theories behind the model formulation. Another information source is the Everglades research facility at the University of Florida, which has data specific to the South Florida wetlands region.

Expected Results

As is predicted by the USGS itself, the hydrologic model for this area will be an extremely complicated one. Factors such as evapotranspiration rates and runoff coefficients are specific to the region, with little applicable data available. However, field research currently being conducted should facilitate the model formulation. Overall, while this research may not result in any specific numerical analysis, it should provide an idea of the effects of drainage and construction on the watershed and identify the steps that need to be taken to restore and maintain the ecosystem of the Florida Everglades.

aubrey@mail.utexas.edu