Environmental Restoration in the Everglades

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When most people think of the Everglades, they picture the sawgrass wetlands and mangroves at the southern tip of Florida. What they don’t realize is that the health of this incredible ecosystem is dependent upon events far to the north. Historically, the Everglades received a steady supply of fresh water from a massive watershed that begins near Orlando, but over the past century—in the name of flood control and agriculture—man has interrupted that flow, most notably at Lake Okeechobee. As a result, the amount of water that reaches Florida Bay, at the southern tip of the state, is less than half of what it should be.

The main goal of Everglades restoration is to send more fresh water south, but this is not as simple as it may sound. Simon and Hannah Perkins—cousins who are part of the third generation of the Perkins family to run Orvis—traveled the length of the Everglades watershed, talking to scientists, conservationists, and fishing guides to see firsthand the work being done and to explore what the future may hold.

The vibrant greens of Shingle Creek shine in the sun coming through the trees — Shingle Creek

The headwaters of the Everglades watershed is a slow, meandering, cypress-lined creek just outside the city of Orlando.

Several people in an airboat navigate the Kissimmee River — Kissimmee River

The restoration of 40 miles of river and floodplain is proof that these massive projects can be completed and show immediate results.

A bird's eye view of Port Mayaca Lock and Dam on Lake Okeechobee. — Lake Okeechobee & EAA Reservoir

This is where the southward flow of water was interrupted. The reservoir will clean and store fresh water before it is sent south.

A person tests water from a boat under the Tamiami Trail Bridge — Tamiami Trail Bridges

The road bed for Highway 41 effectively dammed the shallow “sheet flow” of water from the north, but two new bridges have restored the flow.

The roots of mangrove trees braided together and holding the soil together — Everglades National Park

The major outlet for fresh water from the Everglades, Shark River features the region’s tallest and most productive red-mangrove forests.

Dozens of sea birds flying over Florida Bay — Florida Bay

Florida Bay now receives less than 50% of the fresh water it needs to maintain its massive seagrass beds, which are the key to the entire ecosystem.

Simon Perkins is the president of Orvis and the third generation of the Perkins family to lead the company. He is a former fly-fishing and wingshooting guide, devoted father and husband, passionate angler and hunter, and like his cousin Hannah, lifelong conservationist.

Hannah Perkins is a third-generation family owner of the company and has a lifelong passion for the outdoors and conservation.

Capt. Benny Blanco is a fishing guide, the host of Guiding Flow TV, a Captains For Clean Water ambassador, and a fierce advocate for Everglades restoration.

Capt. Daniel Andrews is a former fishing guide who left the business to become a co-founder and executive director of Captains For Clean Water.

Mike Cheek is a staff environmental scientist/avian ecologist at the South Florida Water Management District, who has worked extensively on Kissimmee River restoration.

Lawrence Glenn is director of the Water Resources Division at the South Florida Water Management District. He supervises scientific monitoring to evaluate ecological conditions in the District’s lakes, rivers, estuaries, and Greater Everglades, including Florida Bay.

Dr. Stephen Davis is the chief science officer at The Everglades Foundation. For the past dozen years, his efforts have been focused on Everglades restoration, ecosystem health, and impacts of sea-level rise.

Dr. Sparkle Malone is an assistant professor at Florida International University, whose research explores questions related to ecosystem conditions, sustainability, and vulnerability to climate extremes.

Dr. Jennifer Rehage is a coastal and fish ecologist and associate professor at Florida International University, who studies how alterations to freshwater flows and related effects influence fish and the recreational fisheries they support in the Everglades and south Florida.