This summer, South Florida Water Management District put Biscayne Bay and Biscayne National Park in the spotlight, and this delicate estuarine system has gained some new protections. But there is still much to be done.
Biscayne National Park is designated as an Important Bird Area, and is home to a variety of wading birds, migratory birds, shorebirds, and gulls. Click here for a full list of the birds spotted at the Park.
In recent years, Biscayne Bay’s freshwater habitats have suffered from too little water during dry times and too much water during wet times. The fluctuating levels of salinity upset populations of prey fish- the food that many wading birds depend for foraging.
The Biscayne Bay Coastal Wetlands (BBCW) project, a project within the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan, will rehydrate freshwater habitats of Biscayne Bay by redistributing surface waters from regional canals through a spreader canal system and improve the distribution of water in the bay through the year. This will enhance and restore the quality of freshwater habitats and tidal habitats, increasing the populations of prey fish, and in turn and increase the numbers of foraging and nesting wading birds in the area.
The SFWMD advanced the design and construction of the first phase of the BBCW project in the last few years, and we are already starting to see the benefits.
Audubon Florida was excited to hear this summer that SFWMD will commit an additional $2 million dollars to expedite the benefits from construction features for the BBCW Phase 1 project.
We applaud the efforts of Governing Board member Sandy Batchelor and SFWMD staff for making this happen.
The Governing Board also voted to pass the Biscayne Bay Coastal Wetlands (BBCW) Phase 1 Water Reservation. This rule provides legal mechanism necessary to protect water for the restoration project under the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan and to ensure that cost will be shared by both the state and federal governments.
The SFWMD is on the right path, and now there are a few necessary next steps. First, with extra funding available, the SFWMD could complete a key part of this project- the Cutler Flowway- to maximize benefits for this delicate ecosystem. The designs are all finished- now we just need the funding. Audubon Florida and Tropical Audubon Society are working together to urge state legislators to make this a priority. In addition, we are urging the SFWMD to draft the rule to protect the waters of Biscayne National Park in a broader scope.
For more information on this effort, please click here to see our latest letter to the District.
Have you visited Biscayne National Park? Click here for some birding tips. If you visit, snap a photo and post it to our Facebook Page.
