Nearly 100 environmental professionals from across Southwest Florida attended the 2024 Corkscrew Watershed Science Forum on May 10. The event included 13 presentations by scientists and conservation professionals with Audubon Florida, South Florida Water Management District, University of Florida, and more. Their work covered wide-ranging topics, from the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan to lichens, mosquito control to Snail Kites. Many projects presented had both a local focus and far-reaching impacts, sharing lessons learned, best practices, and resources for all who work or live in the watershed.

The daylong event kicked off with remarks by Sanctuary Director Keith Laakkonen, who highlighted the Sanctuary’s 70th anniversary and connections to the coast. Three Audubon staff members presented during the forum.

Wood Stork Declines

Shawn Clem, PhD, director of conservation, provided a retrospective on the loss of shallow wetlands and resulting decline of Wood Stork nesting in the region. She highlighted the importance of long-term datasets for informing land and water management. The birds are telling us that there is a lot of work to do to restore annual changes in water levels for the benefit of all wildlife and people. In response to this identified need, South Florida Water Management District Big Cypress Basin has begun to seek solutions for water restoration.

Monitoring Restoration Progress

Biologist Jacob Zetzer shared an update on the restoration taking place at the Sanctuary and monitoring efforts. Aerial images document a large-scale reduction of Carolina willow (a native-nuisance species), and species level transect data illustrate increasing coverage of the native grasses and sedges that provide better wildlife habitat. Once restored, staff will manage these habitats with prescribed fire every two to five years, maintaining conditions that fish, birds, and other marsh wildlife need to flourish. The approximate cost of this restoration is $3,500 per acre, and nearly 1,400 acres are now in various stages of restoration at the Sanctuary.

Smart Growth

Brad Cornell, Southwest Florida policy associate for both Audubon Florida and Audubon Western Everglades, gave a riveting presentation on smart growth. After defining the value and benefits of smart growth, he shared a map of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s annual overview of “billion-dollar weather and climate disasters.” These events, worsened by climate change, show the importance of resilience and the benefits of taking steps now to avoid more costly disasters in the future. Large-scale efforts like Everglades restoration, wildlife linkages, and springs restoration are critical, and we must also take steps as individuals, neighborhoods, and municipalities to educate and empower people to build back stronger after disasters. We still have great opportunities to build more sustainable communities to accommodate the influx of residents in our state. With more native plants, less grass, and support for wetland plants in manmade lakes, we can save water and support insects that birds need to survive while making ourselves more resilient to catastrophic events.

Find more information from the event at corkscrew.audubon.org/cwsf-24.

This article first appeared in the 2024 Summer edition of the Naturalist. To read the full magazine click here.