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Does Water Flow Influence Everglades Landscape Patterns? (2003) / Chapter Skim
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2. The Ridge and Slough Landscape: Significance, Degradation, Origin, and Maintenance
Pages 8-15

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From page 8...
... This landscape is composed of a parallel arrangement of rather evenly spaced sawgrass ridges and open water sloughs characterized by aquatic vegetation and generally the year-round presence of water above the soil surface (Figure 2-2~. In its pristine state, the soil surface of ridges is two to three feet (60 to 90 cm)
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From page 9...
... LNWR = Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge. The pre-drainage system depicted above is a synthetic satellite image reconstructed by the SFWMD Hydrologic Systems Modeling Division using the Natural System Model (NSM)
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From page 10...
... Artist's reconstruction of the pre-drainage condition of the ridge and slough landscape. The open water sloughs are characterized by submerged and floating vegetation, including periphyton mats, and may be somewhat more sinuous than shown in the figure.
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From page 11...
... Rather, alteration of the spatial pattern of flow magnitude and direction associated with the construction of canals, roads, and levees and the institution of water management practices directed towards water supply and flood control is also required. For example, extensive degradation in the water conservation areas is particularly notable near major linear structures such as Alligator Alley (Interstate 75)
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From page 12...
... Furthermore, information from aerial photographs and anecdotal information indicate that the areas currently showing pattern degradation were not degraded earlier in the 20th century. It is clear that the ridge and slough landscape is degrading and that the most severe degradation is geographically associated with major linear structures that inhibit flow.
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From page 13...
... (A notable exception involves tree islands, in which tree species tolerances have been examined in the context of changes in water depth, e.g., Conner et al., 2003~. Hence the White Paper makes no attempt to argue for or against any of the mechanisms.
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From page 14...
... Note the shift in alignment of the tree islands south of the Tamiami Trail where the direction of flow also changes. SOURCE: Florida Satellite Image, section 22, of South Florida Water Management District, accessed online at http://www.evergladesvillage.net/sat/everglades/.
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From page 15...
... The Ridge and Slough Landscape. Significance, Degradation, Origin, and Maintenance 15
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Key Terms

  • white paper
  • water levels
  • tree islands
  • water conservation
  • lake okeechobee

  • underlying bedrock
  • slough pattern
  • water depth
  • peat surface
  • wildlife refuge

  • river slough
  • paper asserts
  • paper makes
  • vegetation changes
  • bedrock surface

  • national wildlife
  • major linear
  • satellite image
  • water management
  • aerial photographs

  • shark river
  • slough degradation
  • tamiami trail
  • paper offers
  • loxahatchee national

  • linear structures
  • sawgrass plains
  • water level
  • historical ridge
  • southern edge


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