The CFWSC has an active presence in support of hydrologic research and monitoring across the Florida, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands region. We look forward to expanding our work with partner organizations throughout this region and identifying new projects of mutual interest relevant to our water-resources.
Florida has more than eighty distinct ecosystems, which are home to many different plant and animal species. This section offers resources about many of them.
The Florida Museum of Natural History is a leading authority in biodiversity and cultural heritage, using its expertise to advance knowledge, solve real world problems, and impact public policy and perception. An engaging and impactful hub for teaching and learning science, the Museum has been particularly successful at utilizing research collections and making them accessible to diverse audiences, demonstrating relevance in their daily lives. In so doing, the Florida Museum of Natural History inspires people to value the biological richness and cultural heritage of our diverse world and make a positive difference in its future.
With the dedication of Everglades National Park in 1947, a new precedent was set in the growing conservation movement. For the first time in American history, a large tract of wilderness was permanently protected not for its scenic value, but for the benefit of the unique diversity of life it sustained. The mosaic of habitats found within the Greater Everglades Ecosystem supports an assemblage of plant and animal species not found elsewhere on the planet. While nine distinct habitats have been identified, the landscape remains dynamic. Ecosystems remain in a constant state of flux, subject to the environmental factors of south Florida. Learn more about the different Everglades ecosystems at the links below.
Dedicated to the establishment of a regional center for the study and public presentation of the Natural History and Archaeology of Florida and the Caribbean.
The biologically diverse domain of the South Florida Coastal Marine Ecosystem (SFCME) and its watershed lies at the intersection of three large marine ecosystems (Gulf of Mexico, Southeast U.S. Continental Shelf, and Caribbean Sea).
The United States Environmental Protection Agency South Florida Ecosystem Assessment Project is an innovative, long-term research, monitoring and assessment effort. Its goal is to provide timely scientific information that is critical for management decisions on the Everglades ecosystem and its restoration. The purpose of this report is to document 1993 to 1996 baseline conditions in the Everglades and Big Cypress prior to ecosystem restoration efforts. The project is unique to South Florida in two aspects: (1) its probability-based sampling approach permits quantitative statements about ecosystem health; and (2) its extensive spatial coverage and sampling intensity are unprecedented.
The Everglades is recognized both nationally and internationally as one of the world's most unique natural and cultural resources. Encompassing nearly 18,000 square miles of the southern tip of the Florida peninsula the Everglades and the greater Everglades ecosystem (spanning from the Kissimmee River basin north of Lake Okeechobee all the way south to Florida Bay) are also the focus of the world's largest intergovernmental watershed restoration effort.
The U.S. Geological Survey provides scientific and technical expertise, leadership, and coordination in addressing issues concerning the quality of the Nation's water resources. This site allows you to find information and data about water-quality in Florida.