Everglades Wetland Restoration Studies, with a focus on Southwest Florida

Models for the Eastern Oyster, Blue Crab, Sea Trout, Sea Grasses (Halodule and Thalassia) and a Freshwater Submerged Grass (Vallisneria) have been complete and are being used for the alternative selection. The Eastern Oyster, Blue Crab, and Sea Trout models have been submitted to and approved by the IMS. A modeling and habitat evaluation application to aid decision support has been completed. Inland models have been coded and tested with surrogate hydrological data. Four models have been produced: wading birds (ibis and wood stork), amphibian communities, aquatic fauna communities, and large mammal connectivity and roadkill risk. Additional hydrologic input for inland alternative runs of the ecological models will be supplied by the SFWMD. The inland modeling tools continue to be refined and expanded. Coastal models will continue to be modified and implemented.