The Everglades: An Environmental History

The Florida History and Culture Series

by David McCally

"[A] detailed and lively environmental history of the Everglades.  Those interested in anthropology, geology, and American history will also find much to fascinate them as McCally traces the ecosystem's development from its geologic origins through the first human habitation to today's threats by development and agriculture."-- Library Journal "Admirable . . . an interesting and informative historical account of the Everglades."-- Journal of Economic History "A powerful book that might disturb some and energize others." -- St. Petersburg Times "An engaging, fascinating, and fine-grained narrative that is good history with an activist edge. It will change the way we think about the Everglades."--Mart A. Stewart, Western Washington University, author of "What Nature Suffers to Groe": Life, Labor, and Landscape on the Georgia Coast This important work for general readers and environmentalists alike offers the first major discussion of the formation, development, and history of the Everglades, considered by many to be the most endangered ecosystem in North America. Comprehensive in scope, it begins with South Florida's geologic origins--before the Everglades became wetlands--and continues through the 20th century, when sugar reigned as king of the Everglades Agricultural Area.  Urging restoration of the Everglades, McCally argues that agriculture, especially sugar growing, must be abandoned or altered.  Sure to be influential in all discussions of Florida's future, The Everglades also will be significant for environmentalists focused on any area of North America. David McCally teaches U.S. history at the University of South Florida, St. Petersburg campus, and environmental history at Eckerd College in St. Petersburg.

Genres: Nonfiction, Nature

240 pages, Paperback

First published June 30, 1999

Reviews

[Emory Shepson]

Wonderfully well written and researched. The way McCally moved from one age of the Everglades to another really made this a “biography of the Everglades” and each step was masterfully built upon the others. It was dense. It took me a while to get into, but by the end I was caught up in the intrigue and horror of the development system that is currently at play. It is horribly sad though, even with the look towards restoration.

[Nick K · Rating 4 out of 5]

ESSENTIAL for any Floridian. It gets a bit difficult to slog through at times but the information in this book makes it easy to understand the corrupt complexities of florida land management policies, and why you should care. Good read, very illuminating.

[Kurtbg · Rating 3 out of 5]

This books starts out letting you know that its purpose was to provide an education to mainly Florida residents so they could make a more informed opinion when voting on a bill to reclaim the what is now known as the Everglades. The book serves that purpose. It provides a very interesting look at how the geology of the area formed to create what could be said as a large river.

the book does has very academic and detailed sections on the geology, soil, water, and fire's impact on the flora and fauna showing how natures finds a balance to thrive and become the way it is - at least for a short term of time that it can. Once the area was documented by Europe the area became a land of hidden riches to the dreamers, prospectors, and those willing to make a buck off the gullible. However, the Everglades was preventing those dreams to come true. There was just too much water. In accordance with humans the desire to best nature and control was eagerly adopted and the era of drainage began in the late 1800's. Prior to the spread of explorers and settlers to the area, the local Indians did introduce some measures to control water flow in the form of planting trees along southern Okeechobee Lake. These were small plans indeed. For the next 100 years canals were built, water drained - canals expanded and more. What follows is a dance between the land sellers, companies, the local government, federal government, and farmers learning that it's not so simple to not only drain and control vast amounts of water, but once drained, how the drainage would affect the soil and the increase of files. Basically it was learned just exactly how the small things were just as important. Soil alkaline levels were different. Drainage increase the amount of fires, and the soil composition was such that it allowed for underground fires.

I took a tour of the Everglades and was captivated by the amount of problems caused by hunting, drainage efforts, and the problems caused by the introduction of non-indigenous species. This book didn't quite cover that. If you can recommend a book that does let me know!