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South Florida Geographic Initiative
To address the issues surrounding the South Florida ecosystem, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is working in partnership with several local, regional, state and federal agencies. The goal is to assure the long-term sustainability of the region's varied natural resources while providing for the coexistence of extensive agricultural operations and a continually expanding human population.
EPA's Role
The EPA South Florida Geographic Iniative targets efforts to protect and restore various communities and ecosystems impacted by environmental problems. Under this initiative, Region 4 works with stakeholders to develop and implement community-based approaches to mitigate diffuse sources of pollution and cumulative risk.
The Region 4 South Florida Office, located in West Palm Beach, Florida, takes the lead on
special initiatives and planning activities in the South Florida area, which includes
the Everglades and Florida Keys coral reef ecosystem. The South Florida Office staff have primary responsibility for implementing, coordinating, and
facilitating activities related to the Section 404 Wetlands Protection Program of the Clean
Water Act, the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Program (CERP),
the Water Quality Protection
Program for the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary (FKNMS), the Southeast Florida Coral
Reef Initiative (SEFCRI) as directed by the U.S. Coral Reef Task Force,
the Brownsfield Program,
and other Waste Division programs.
The South Florida Office also works with the Region 4 Science and Ecosystem Support Division on the South Florida Assessment Project which is an ecosystem assessment of the Everglades.
Background
The South Florida ecosystem is the principal nursery area for the largest commercial and sport fisheries in Florida, home of the largest wilderness east of the Mississippi River, the location of the only living coral barrier reef adjacent to the United States, the most significant breeding ground for wading birds in North America, a major producer of sugarcane, home to two Native American nations and a major tourist region.
Its natural resources are of national and international acclaim, and include three national parks, over ten national wildlife refuges, a national preserve and a national marine sanctuary. Everglades National Park, the Florida Keys, and Florida Bay can be seen on an satellite photograph of the area.
But the ecosystem's health is threatened because of expanding human population. The South Florida Region is home to about eight million people; this is more populous than thirty-nine states. Over two million more people are expected to settle in the area over the next ten to twenty years. One-third of these are foreign born and most will be under forty-five years of age.
Fifty percent of the region's wetlands have been lost to suburban and agricultural development. Altered hydrology and water management throughout the system have had a major impact on the area.