Author
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Savabi, M |
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Submitted to: Federal Interagency Hydrologic Modeling Conference
Publication Type: Proceedings Publication Acceptance Date: 10/3/2003 Publication Date: 10/3/2003 Citation: Savabi, M.R. 2003. Everglades Agro-Hydrology Computer Applications on S. Florida Farms During the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan Implementation.. Federal Interagency Hydrologic Modeling Conference. Interpretive Summary: The agricultural area of south Miami-Dade County, Florida, is bounded by urban development to the north, Biscayne National Park to the east, Everglades National Park (ENP) to the west, and Biscayne Bay and Florida Bay to the South. Over 23,000 people are directly involved in the county's highly efficient agriculture. Agricultural production in south Florida is very vulnerable to flooding. For instance, during Tropical Storm Gordon in 1994, it was estimated that about 17 percent of the agricultural area was adversely affected by flooding with an estimated $89 million lost due to the storm. A goal of the Everglades Restoration Plan is to increase water flow in Everglades National Park, and this may result in an elevated water table in parts of Miami-Dade County. Measuring plant growth and hydrologic processes for every farm in South Florida is not a realistic option. Therefore, a modeling approach is needed to assess how changes in the local hydrologic regime may affect agricultural production. A farm scale, deterministic model called the Everglades Agro-Hydrology Model (EAHM) is currently under development for south Florida Technical Abstract: A farm scale, deterministic model called the Everglades Agro-Hydrology Model (EAHM) is currently under development for South Florida. This model is process-based and deterministic, and will simulate processes such as evapotranspiration (ET), percolation, plant growth, infiltration, soil erosion, and the movement of agricultural chemicals within the soil profile. The EAHM will enable land users and regulatory agencies to evaluate, and predict the possible hydrologic impacts on agricultural production that could result from the proposed Everglades Restoration Plan. The model was tested for south Dade-Miami County tomato fields. |
