Paddling the Everglades National Park

Well, my book is finally out. Well, en route to a bookstore near you. I received my advance copies last week and anxiously await them in the stores. I look forward to going back down and revisiting some paddle routes I did almost two years ago now. I'm fairly sure the flora and fauna haven't changed much since I've been down paddling.

President Harry S. Truman formally dedicated the Everglades National Park on December 6, 1947. This event culminated years of efforts by a dedicated group of conservationists to make a national park in the Florida Everglades.

A variety of floral is one of the key resources in the park. One of the more prominent and colorful plants are the Bromeliads and epiphytic orchids. It is said that as many as 25 varieties of orchids have been seen and documented in the park, along with more than 1,000 other kinds of seed-bearing plants and 120 species of trees. More than 36 threatened or endangered animal species reside in the Everglades, including the american Alligator, the Florida Panther, the West Indies Manatee and the Cape Sable Seaside Sparrow. More than 300 species of birds have been seen in the Everglades as well. Seven of which are rare or endangered.

Protection of wading birds and their rookeries from commercial exploitation and encroachments was the main reason for setting the park aside. Tens of thousands of birds nest and call the Everglades home throughout the year.

The Everglades National Park is also an International Biosphere Reserve, a World Heritage Site and a Ramsar Wetland of International Importance.

Boating at Biscayne Bay

Great news for recreational boaters! Thought I'd pass this along. 

U.S. Senator Mel Martinez (R-FL) pushed forward an effort to allow personal watercraft to transit the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterways between Biscayne Bay National Park and the Keys without having to navigate ocean currents.

"this is largely a matter of personal safety," said Martinez, a member of Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee. "boats, ships and tugs are allowed o use the intracoastal, but since 2000, thousands of people using personal watercraft have been forced to go several miles out into the open ocean. This effort brings some common sense to the rules and safety to numerous recreational boaters." 

Martinez's effort would allow personal watercraft equal access rights to the federally maintained and dredged Intracoastal Waterway; and it would create a review panel to assess any potential environmental or disproportionate impacts. In addition, it would direct the Coast Guard to complete an environmental assessment within 150 days to ensure that personal watercraft do not have any disparate impact on the environment compared to other vessels allowed to access the Intracoastal Waterway. 

Since 2000, 15 separate national parks have conducted studies on the impact of personal watercraft and all have concluded that this type of craft presents no unique challenges or impact on the economy. 

Personal watercraft are allowed to access the Florida Keys marine Sanctuary and John Pennekamp State Park, but they have been arbitrarily excluded from using the Intracoastal Waterway an it has ben deemed a boating safety risk by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission. 

Sen. Martinez successfully included the personal watercraft provision as part of the Coast Guard Reauthorization Act with the support of Senator Bill Nelson - a measure reauthorizing the activities of the Coast Guard, its' missions and authorities for the years 2010 and 2011. 

Where to start paddling in the Everglades

This beautiful, one-of-a-kind tropical oasis is a challenge, respite and natural wonder for everyone. The Everglades, not just the Everglades National Park, is an awe-inspiring place that everyone should visit at least once. It's a sanctuary for people and animals. A living museum. The Everglades encompasses thousands of acres, 1.4 million to be exact, from the headwaters near Orlando, south to Lake Okeechobe, east to Biscayne National Park south to Flamingo and then west to Big Cypress State Park. 

The Everglades has been referred to as, "The River of Grass," by Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings. It is the jewel of America. I love exploring these ecosystems, eight in all, with their diverse habitat and terrain. At first glance, to most, they may appear similar and uninteresting, but if you stop, breath in the fresh air and just gaze into the hammocks or sawgrass, you will be amazed, surprised and delighted.

(more to come)