Ricardo A. Alvarez 1
Ricardo A. Alvarez Florida Center for Environmental Studies Ricardo A. Alvarez Florida Atlantic University 2
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CENTRAL FLORIDA LAKES KISSIMMEE RIVER LAKE OKEECHOBEE COASTAL RIDGE BISCAYNE BAY FLORIDA BAY Ricardo A. Alvarez 4
PRECIPITATION LAKES RIVERS LAKE OKEECHOBEE NATURAL FLOW PERCOLATION EVAPORATION AQUIFER REPLENISHMENT FRESH/SALT WATER NATIVE FLORA NATIVE FAUNA Ricardo A. Alvarez 5
CENTRAL FLORIDA LAKES KISSIMMEE CANAL LAKE OKEECHOBEE AGRICULTURE URBAN REGION EVERGLADES BISCAYNE BAY FLORIDA BAY Ricardo A. Alvarez 6
PRECIPITATION ENGINEERED FLOW ENCLOSED LAKE OKEECHOBEE PERCOLATION AQUIFER WITHDRAWALS TREATED WATER STORM WATER AGRICULTURE WATER MANAGEMENT NATIVE FAUNA URBAN ENVIRONMENT LAKES RIVERS CANALS EVAPORATION FRESH/SALT WATER RUNOFF IRRIGATION SEWAGE NATIVE FLORA EXOTIC SPECIES SEA LEVEL RISE Ricardo A. Alvarez 7
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o TO SUPPORT THE FOREVER GROWING NEEDS OF HUMAN ACTIVITY WE NEEDED TO CONTROL THE FLOW OF FRESH WATER; o TO ACHIEVE THIS A COMPLEX SYSTEM OF CANALS, LEVEES, AND PUMPING STATIONS HAS BEEN BUILT; o THIS ALLOWS THE ADJUSTMENT OF QUANTITY, QUALITY, DISTRIBUTION AND TIMING OF THE FLOW OF FRESH WATER; o IN SUPPORT OF FLOOD CONTROL, WATER SUPPLY, AGRICULTURE, URBAN DEVELOPMENT AND RECREATIONAL NEEDS! Ricardo A. Alvarez 9
o AREA OF EVERGLADES REDUCED BY 50% o LARGE DECLINE IN WADING BIRD POPULATION o 2/3 OF PLANT AND ANIMAL SPECIES IN DANGER OF DISSAPEARING o CONFLICT BETWEEN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND ENVIRONMENT o CHALLENGE: HUMAN NEEDS AND ECOSYSTEM PROTECTION o AN ENGINEERED WATER MANAGEMENT SYSTEM o 5 TH LARGEST URBAN METROPOLITAN AREA IN USA o 6.0+ MILLION RESIDENTS o MILLIONS OF TOURISTS FROM ALL OVER THE WORLD ANNUALLY o GATEWAYS TO LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN o HUGE INTERNATIONAL TRADE o LARGE AGRICULTURAL ENTERPRISE Ricardo A. Alvarez 10
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o OBJECTIVES: REVERSE DAMAGE; GET THE WATER RIGHT o HUGE, COMPLEX, LONG, COSTLY, EXCITING, FIRST-OF-A-KIND o MUST BALANCE WIDE RANGE OF INTERESTS o COMPLEX AND COMPETING NEEDS OF PLANTS AND ANIMALS o UNKNOWN FACTORS: URBAN DEVELOPMENT; CLIMATE CHANGE o NEW LEVELS OF AQUIFER STORAGE AND RECOVERY TECHNOLOGY o WHAT IS GOOD FOR THE PARTS MAY NOT BE GOOD FOR THE WHOLE o MANY AGENCIES, DIVERGENT MISSIONS, LACK OF COORDINATION o LIMITED FUNDING, SHORTENED TIMETABLES o KNOWLEDGE GAPS WITH REGARDS TO THE SCIENCE o LACK OF SYSTEM-WIDE SCIENCE INTERPRETATION AND INTEGRATION o HIGH LEVELS OF UNCERTAINTY o IT MAY REQUIRE A LEARN-BY-DOING APPROACH Ricardo A. Alvarez 12
o GEER LEAVES OUT THE INTERACTION BETWEEN THE ECOSYSTEM AND HUMAN ACTIVITY AND THE URBAN ENVIRONMENT; o IT ALSO LEAVES OUT CLIMATE CHANGE AND THE VULNERABILITY OF THE URBAN ENVIRONMENT, AND HOW ADAPTATION EFFORTS MAY CHANGE HUMAN ACTIVITY AND THE URBAN ENVIRONMENT; o IT LEAVES OUT HOW CHANGES IN HUMAN ACTIVITY AND THE URBAN ENVIRONMENT MAY AFFECT THE ECOSYSTEM OVER TIME; o BY LEAVING OUT THESE COMPONENTS OF THE LARGER SOUTH FLORIDA ENVIRONMENT GEER IS MISSING THE OPORTUNITY FOR COOPERATIVE ACTION FOR THE BENEFIT OF BOTH THE EVERGLADES ECOSYSTEM AND THE HUMAN ENVIRONMENT! Ricardo A. Alvarez 13
o VULNERABILITY o HURRICANES, STORM SURGE, SEA LEVEL RISE, COASTAL FLOODING, EXTREME PRECIPITATION, DROUGHT o CLIMATE CHANGE EXACERBATION o WATER MANAGEMENT o HAZARD MITIGATION o ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE Ricardo A. Alvarez 14
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o FLOOD MITIGATION IN AN URBAN ENVIRONMENT IN SOUTH FLORIDA o AN EXAMPLE OF POTENTIAL CONTRIBUTION BY THE URBAN ENVIRONMENT TO GEER Ricardo A. Alvarez 20
Emergency Detention Basin EDB Supply Canal Miami River Forward Pump Ricardo A. Alvarez 21
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o WHAT IF EDB WATER IS USED FOR AQUIFER STORAGE? o WHAT IF SOUTH FLORIDA BUILDS NEW C4 INITIATIVES? o WHAT IF CISTERNS BECOME COMMOMPLACE? o WHAT IF PERCOLATING SURFACES REPLACE PAVED AREAS? o WHAT IF WATER EFFICIENT TOILETS BECOME A REQUIREMENT? o WHAT IF WATER REUSE BECOMES A REQUIREMENT Ricardo A. Alvarez 23
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Ricardo A. Alvarez Center for Environmental Studies Florida Atlantic University Phone: [305] 931-0871 Mobile:[305] 332-3664 Fax: [305] 931-4704 Email: ricardoalfonso@comcast.net ricardoalfonso@mitigat.com Web Page: www.mitigat.com Facebook: Ricardo A. Alvarez Twitter: imitigate Ricardo A. Alvarez 26