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The FIU article “Restoring the Everglades to ensure South Florida’s freshwater supply” (2023) explains how researchers at the FIU Institute of Environment are leading scientific efforts to restore the Everglades and protect the region’s freshwater resources. Authors Karen Cochrane, Angela Nicoletti, and Adrienne Sylver describe how decades of development, pollution, and disrupted water flow have harmed the ecosystem. FIU scientists have identified high phosphorus levels entering the Everglades from agricultural runoff and helped establish the scientifically based phosphorus limit now used in the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP). They also lead the Florida Coastal Everglades Long-Term Ecological Research (FCE LTER) program, which collects decades of ecological data to guide restoration. Early signs of recovery are visible: water is returning to long-dry wetlands, wildlife habitats are improving, and the Biscayne Aquifer is receiving more clean freshwater.
Rhetorically, the article builds strong ethos by grounding its claims in FIU’s scientific expertise and highlighting the leadership of ecologist Todd Crowl and the university’s collaboration with agencies and the Miccosukee Tribe. It uses pathos by emphasizing community well-being, cultural connections, and the hope offered by early restoration successes. Its logos appears in the logical explanation of nutrient pollution, hydrology, and long-term ecological monitoring. The target audience includes policymakers, environmental managers, academics, and South Floridians concerned about water security. The language is accessible, with limited scientific jargon, making complex ecological issues understandable.
Personally, the article feels both inspiring and realistic. It highlights the scale of the challenge while showing that science-driven restoration is already making a difference. The inclusion of tribal voices strengthens the narrative, grounding scientific data in cultural and lived experience. The piece also raises important questions about long-term funding, equity, and climate resilience. Overall, the article underscores how essential interdisciplinary science is to securing South Florida’s environmental future.
Vision
Our Purpose
Everglades Natural Water Flow Restoration aims to illuminate the toxic algae problem through personal narratives and comprehensive research analysis. We advocate for actionable solutions to restore the delicate ecological balance of this vital ecosystem.
On November 7, 2025, I wrote a letter to The Honorable Brian Mast regarding the purchase of U.S. Sugar Corporation lands south of Lake Okeechobee to restore the natural southward flow of clean water through the Everglades. I emphasized his own arguments regarding this matter. Nutrient-rich discharges from Lake Okeechobee are fueling destructive algal blooms that devastate our coastal ecosystems, harm tourism and fishing industries, and endanger communities along the St. Lucie and Caloosahatchee estuaries. The permanent solution lies in restoring a more natural water flow—something that cannot happen without securing key lands currently held by U.S. Sugar.
Acquiring and converting those lands for water storage and treatment would:
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Reduce harmful lake discharges to our coasts.
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Improve freshwater delivery to the Everglades and Florida Bay.
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Protect the estuaries that sustain our local economies.
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Strengthen the resilience of South Florida’s water systems against climate change.
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Paul Julian, Ph.D., a biogeochemist with The Everglades Foundation, breaks down how excess nutrients—especially phosphorus from agricultural runoff and urban development—enter Lake Okeechobee and the Everglades.
These elevated nutrient levels disrupt the natural balance of the Everglades, fueling harmful algal blooms in Florida communities and threatening vital wildlife habitats.
Discover how our science team monitors nutrient trends, assesses their ecological effects, and partners with agencies and organizations to develop solutions that protect the Everglades ecosystem and the millions of Floridians who rely on it.
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