What was the process for developing the Comprehensive Plan?
The process for developing the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan was an open and inclusive. Interested members of the public worked alongside the more than 100 scientists and resource specialists developed the physical and biological performance and measures used to evaluate and design the Plan. Through a workshop process, a set of conceptual ecological models for each of the major landscape features in south Florida was developed. Each model linked the major effects of humans to changes in nature. Each model showed the critical linkages between the hydrology and the natural indicators, such as alligators, pink shrimp and wading birds, and suggested the most appropriate indicators and measures for each landscape. Ultimately, a final recommended Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan was developed and was approved in the Water Resources Development Act of 2000. The Comprehensive Plan will be continually updated as more detailed and refined information becomes available. For m
