South Florida is using pondweed to restore the world’s largest wetlands. The region’s water management district recently transported 23 tons of pondweed, a submerged plant that flourishes just below the water’s surface, dumping the harvested plants into areas of the Everglades damaged by construction and other means. The plants are expected to quickly re-establish and treat nutrients from stormwater runoff.

The district operates four constructed stormwater treatment areas, or STAs. One of the areas is nearly 17,000 acres, which is the largest constructed STA in the world. Altogether, the state operates over 41,000 acres of wetlands. It was estimated by the state that the systems treated 1.5 million acre-feet of water and prevented 176 metric tons of phosphorous from entering the Everglades in 2006.

Visit www.evergladesnow.org for additional information.

Links

• www.evergladesnow.org