Alternative Text Description for CERP Project Boundaries

TABLE OF CONTENTS

MAP OVERVIEW

This map displays the spatial boundaries of projects under the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP) across southern Florida. The map shows 67 different project areas represented as yellow polygons distributed throughout the region, illustrating the geographic scope and coordination needs of this massive environmental restoration effort. The map serves as an official reference for researchers and collaborators to understand where CERP projects are located and how they relate to one another spatially.

GEOGRAPHIC CONTEXT

The map covers southern Florida, extending from the northern extent of Lake Okeechobee down to the southern tip near Homestead and the Florida Keys. Major cities labeled on the map include Miami, West Palm Beach, Boca Raton, Hollywood, Coral Springs, Fort Lauderdale (implied by regional context), Immokalee, Naples, Cape Coral, and Port Charlotte. Lake Okeechobee appears as a large open water body in the north-central portion of the mapped area. The western coastline along the Gulf of America and the eastern Atlantic coast provide the lateral boundaries of the region. The map encompasses both urban coastal areas and interior regions including the Everglades ecosystem.

KEY INSIGHTS

CERP project boundaries are distributed across the entire southern Florida region with notable concentrations in several areas. The largest contiguous project area surrounds and includes Lake Okeechobee, extending west and north of the lake. A substantial cluster of smaller project boundaries appears in the agricultural area south of Lake Okeechobee around Immokalee. Multiple project areas are distributed along the eastern urban corridor from West Palm Beach through Miami. A cluster of project boundaries appears in the southern portion near Homestead. Smaller isolated project areas are scattered in southwest Florida near Naples and Cape Coral. The distribution pattern reflects the complex, multi-site nature of Everglades restoration efforts spanning both urban and rural landscapes.

VISUAL ELEMENTS

CERP Project Boundaries

This layer represents the official boundaries of the 67 individual projects that comprise the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan.

CERP Project Areas (yellow polygons with dark outlines)

Appearance:

The project boundaries appear as yellow-green (olive) colored polygons with dark border outlines. The polygons vary significantly in size and shape, ranging from large irregular areas covering hundreds of square miles to small rectangular parcels.

Distribution:

Project boundaries are distributed throughout southern Florida, with concentrations around Lake Okeechobee, the agricultural interior region, the eastern urban corridor, and southwestern coastal areas.

Notable locations:

Spatial patterns:

The project boundaries show a pattern that reflects both ecological and infrastructure considerations. Larger consolidated areas appear in less developed interior regions, while smaller, more fragmented project areas appear in urbanized coastal zones. Many projects follow linear or corridor-like patterns suggesting alignment with water management infrastructure such as canals or levees. The distribution demonstrates that CERP restoration efforts span diverse landscape types from urban to rural to natural areas.

Overlapping Patterns

While individual project boundaries do not overlap, several project areas are immediately adjacent to one another, particularly in the Lake Okeechobee region and the Immokalee agricultural area, suggesting coordinated restoration activities across connected landscapes.

SYMBOL GUIDE

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

This map serves as an official coordination tool for the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan, which involves many organizations and projects working across southern Florida. The project boundaries shown represent both standard CERP projects and Expedited projects. While the map displays the spatial extent of each project, additional project details such as project names, key contacts, and other critical information are available in the layer's attribute table but are not visible in this map view. Users seeking detailed information about specific projects should consult www.evergladesrestoration.gov or access the full GIS layer with attribution data. The map is intended for use by all researchers and collaborators participating in the CERP process to understand spatial relationships and coordinate restoration activities.

DATA CONTEXT

Data Source:

This layer represents the official map of CERP project boundaries maintained by the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD). The data is compiled and updated by the Land Acquisition Program and is intended as the authoritative reference for all CERP researchers and collaborators. The source layer name in the SFWMD GIS library is 'SFWMD_CERP_AREA_AUG22', with the official feature class name 'CERPBnds' stored in the SFWBNDS feature dataset on an Oracle SDE server, and library reference 'bdwmdcrp'.

Definition Query:

No definition query or filter criteria was applied to this layer; all CERP project boundaries are displayed.

Scale Information:

The map shows a regional scale view appropriate for understanding the overall distribution and spatial relationships of CERP projects across southern Florida. Individual project boundaries and their general shapes are visible at this scale.

Coordinate System:

NAD 1983 HARN Florida GDL Albers (WKID 3087)

Time Period of Content:

The layer name indicates data current as of August 2022 (AUG22).

Limitations:

The map shows project boundary polygons only; project names, contact information, and other detailed attribution included in the layer are not displayed in this map view. The specific project details and current status information must be obtained from the attribute table or referenced websites. The updated version of this layer is maintained by SFWMD, and users should verify they are accessing the most current version for project planning purposes.

Map Coverage:

The map extends from approximately Port Charlotte and Port St. Lucie in the north to the southern tip of the Florida mainland near Homestead and the upper Florida Keys in the south, and from the Gulf of America coast in the west to the Atlantic Ocean coast in the east, encompassing the entire southern Florida region where CERP restoration activities are occurring.

The alternative text description of this map was AI-generated and may contain inaccuracies.