Summary
This video describes the history of Florida's Kissimmee River, its natural state before human intervention, and the negative impacts of channelization on its ecosystem and the Everglades.
Highlights
The Natural Kissimmee River
00:00:00
The Kissimmee River originally meandered over 100 miles from Lake Kissimmee to Lake Okeechobee. During heavy rains, it would swell into a large, shallow flood plain almost two miles wide. In drier seasons, the river would shrink back to its twisting course, a cycle crucial for the diverse organisms within its ecosystem.
Channelization and its Consequences
00:00:26
Due to demands for flood protection, the Army Corps of Engineers channelized the river, transforming it into a 56-mile canal. This project drained nearly 35,000 acres of flood plain and caused over 68 miles of the original river to cease flowing. The loss of wetlands removed natural filters, leading to phosphorus and other agricultural/urban runoff directly contaminating the heart of the Everglades.