Watershed restoration in the Florida Everglades: Agricultural water management and long-term trends in nutrient outcomes in the Everglades Agricultural Area

摘要: Abstract Water quality degradation from agricultural runoff remains a pressing problem worldwide. A major challenge for restoring water is the need long-term evaluation of governance and management interventions. In contexts, primary interventions are best practices designed to minimize nutrient losses by reducing fertilizer application, soil erosion, drainage. Most studies undertaken over short time scales or few farms, which makes it difficult connect outcomes at larger scales. This paper addresses these gaps examining 22 years trends monthly across entirety 166 small, artificial drainage basins in Everglades Agricultural Area, sugarcane-growing region Florida, USA. The Forever Act mandated adoption reduce phosphorus loads but devolved implementation farms collectively rather than requiring individual compliance. We examined effect biophysical drivers on two outcomes: ratio pumping-to-rainfall, measures decisions, total load per acre. analyzed magnitude consistency observed using Theil-Sen Mann-Kendall analysis respectively wet dry seasons. Statistically significant downward were more common decreases both variables, indicating important shifts have occurred that some not been continually improved time. However, we also found statistically upward small number variables. These results suggest devolving has led widespread shift incentives ongoing improvement would be valuable. Findings limited, fine-grain data may needed better detect their effects.