- DOI Science Plan
The Florida Everglades is a complex ecosystem of diverse, interconnected subtropical habitats. Once comprised of over 4 million acres, today the historic Everglades have been reduced by half. The conflict of human versus natural elements in South Florida began in earnest in the early 1900s, when the control of water and the drainage of wetlands were first considered essential for commerce and human safety. Loss of life due to hurricane-related flooding in the 1920s accelerated drainage projects, culminating in the congressional authorization of the Central and Southern Florida C&SF) Flood Control Project in 1948.
- Environmental Contaminants
Expanding human populations are placing increasing pressure, contaminants among them, on the Service's trust resources in south Florida. The Environmental Contaminants (EC) program in south Florida has expanded beyond the traditional EC functions of spill response, NRDAR, Clean Water Act consultation, and technical assistance for Superfund sites, to include coordination with the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) on contaminant issues for various water management projects under the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP).
- Fish and Wildlife Conservation in the Florida Keys
Service Develops New Strategy to Protect Imperiled Species in the Florida Keys
- Mitigation Banking
Mitigation banking is the concept of restoration, enhancement, creation, and in exceptional circumstances, preservation of wetlands and/or other aquatic resources expressly for the purpose of providing compensatory mitigation in advance of authorized impacts to similar resources.
- Private Lands Program
The Private Lands Program offers landowners a variety of opportunities to work with Service staff to develop and implement conservation efforts for rare plants and animals that occur on their properties. In some instances, Federal funding may be available to match money or in-kind services provided by landowners. Following is a brief description of conservation opportunities available under the Private Lands Program.
- Project Planning/Federal Activities
The Project Planning or Federal Activities Program is responsible for evaluating federal water resource projects, Corps of Engineers permit applications and for conducting environmental impact assessments.
- Wetlands
The South Florida Ecological Services Office of the US Fish and Wildlife Service review all federally sponsored and/or federally funded projects to ensure that they are in compliance with all applicable Federal environmental regulations, including the Clean Water Act - Section 404 wetlands protection provisions, Endangered Species Act provisions, Migratory Bird and Raptor Protection provisions, and any other appropriate environmental statutes that apply to the project.
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