Trying to protect the Everglades

The Florida Everglades are in danger of pollution from sugar cane farms. The farmers use phosphorous in the fertilizers on their crops, which need the nutrients to thrive. But, when too much of the phosphorus is used, it seeps into the national park.

Here’s how state lawmakers have tried to protect the park through the 1994 Everglades Forever Act:

• Requires farmers to pay 100% of the cost of cleaning farm water with a special tax of up to $300 million over the next 20 years
• To treat runoff from urban areas which have significantly higher levels of pollution than farms
• Requires farmers to spend additional millions- through implementation of BMP’s (Best Management Practices) to reduce phosphorus before water leaves their farms
• Sets stringent deadlines for compliance and initiates research to determine the work that will need to be done in future phases of Everglades restoration
• More than ninety percent of the entire Everglades receive clean water that meets water quality standards