FIU Institute of Environment Annual Report 2020

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FOREVERGLADES SCHOLARS

A Powerful Partnership for America's Everglades

2020 ANNUAL REPORT

FOR I DIPPED INTO THE FUTURE,

FAR AS HUMAN EYE COULD SEE,

THE VISION OF THE WORLD AND ALL THE WONDER IT COULD BE

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Alfred Lord Tennyson

Strengthening the Partnership Between Florida International University and The Everglades Foundation Drs. Todd Crowl, Evelyn Gaiser, Piero Gardinali, and Melodie Naja

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Saltwater Intrusion, A Silent Killer of the Everglades Ecosystem Lukas Lamb

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Invasive Jewelfish and the Everglades Food Chain Peter Flood

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What Satellites Can Tell Us About the Everglades

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Alumni Highlight: From Mentee to Mentor

Selena Chavez

Featuring Sylvia Lee, Ph.D. & Pamela Sullivan, Ph.D.

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Threats & Resiliency of South Florida’s Municipal Water Supply System Anteneh Abiy, Ph.D.

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The Everglades Economy

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The Everglades Foundation at FIU’s Water Symposium

Andrew Stainback, Ph.D.

in Washington, D.C. Thomas Van Lent, Ph.D.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

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STRENGTHENING THE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN

FLORIDA INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY & THE EVERGLADES FOUNDATION BY: DRS. TODD CROWL, EVELYN GAISER, PIERO GARDINALI, AND MELODIE NAJA Twenty years ago, the partnership between The Everglades Foundation and Florida International University (FIU) was born out of a mutual understanding of the Everglades ecosystem and recognition of its importance to our region and our state. Unfortunately, the health of America’s Everglades has been in a steady decline, succumbing to natural and man-made threats. Today, it is now less than half its original size and vulnerable to many dangers including overpopulation, pollution, poor water flow management, invasive species, and climate change. Decades of continued scientific inquiry have provided great insight on the overall

functioning of the Everglades and its threats. Beginning with the creation of the Southeast Environmental Research Center and more recently through the Florida Coastal Everglades Long Term Ecological Research program, FIU has been at the cutting edge of Everglades science on topics ranging from the impacts of water quality to the impacts of sea level rise. Likewise, The Everglades Foundation’s expertise in hydrology, water quality, and ecology for over a decade has generated new science in understanding the current health of the ecosystem and outcomes of different restoration alternatives.

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1 8 valuable partnership between The Everglades The Foundation and FIU started in 2000 with the George M. Barley, Jr. endowed chair at FIU. Both George and Mary Barley were instrumental in making this chair a leading voice in advancing Everglades restoration science. George Barley was also one of the founders of The Everglades Foundation. Since its inception in 1993, the Foundation has become widely recognized for its science-driven approach to advancing restoration. In the last ten years, supporting graduate student research on the Everglades has emerged as one of the Foundation’s Science priorities, further strengthening the continued partnership with FIU.

“By partnering together, The Everglades Foundation and Florida International University help students discover how the ecosystem works resulting in improved plans for managing the ecosystem’s future for the benefit of plants, animals, and people,” says Dr. Evelyn Gaiser, the George M. Barley Jr. Endowed Chair of Everglades Research.

In 2013, The Everglades Foundation’s FIU ForEverglades Scholars Program was developed to support research efforts from FIU graduate students working to understand and protect the River of Grass. This powerful collaboration continues to expand, supporting studies from algae and alligators to environmental economics and cultural heritage, all of which are necessary to solve the most complex environmental problems.

Students are not only afforded the opportunity for focused research mentored by scientists from both academia and the private sector, they also gain experience in science communication and in communicating the relevance of their work to decision-makers. The relationship between The Everglades Foundation and the Institute of Environment at FIU continues to broaden and strengthen. Recently, the State University System of Florida’s Board of Governors designated FIU as a University of Distinction in Environmental Resilience.

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“The environmental resiliency focus will result in a much broader and comprehensive approach to enhancing South Florida ecosystems, including the Everglades, and provide many more avenues for collaboration and partnership between the Foundation and FIU, including the launch of a new program in Environmental Finance,” says Dr. Todd A. Crowl, Director of the FIU Institute of Environment.

The Everglades provides the biodiversity and ecological functions necessary for the indigenous creatures that call it home. It is also a critical part of South Florida’s supply of drinking water - without the Everglades’ natural filtration and flow of water into the Biscayne Aquifer, many locals would find themselves without drinking water. It is a crucial part of our local, national and global environment that needs to be protected.

“Expanding the partnership between the two organizations makes sense as we are working toward the same goal. Science generated at FIU by these ForEverglades scholars will only help accelerate the planning and construction of several key components of the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan, a high priority for The Everglades Foundation. These key projects will benefit the environment and the urban areas by recharging our aquifer and potentially mitigating the impacts of rising seas,” says Dr. Melodie Naja, Director of Science at The Everglades Foundation.

Ten years ago, The Everglades Foundation and FIU came together to formally address the threats to the Everglades. Today, this partnership continues to support vital research that advances restoration and resource management options while expanding our understanding of this ecosystem and its interconnectivity with urban areas of South Florida.

“FIU researchers were instrumental in the discussions of how phosphorus challenged the sustainability of the entire ecosystem, but were also pioneers in the search for solutions that have directed major restoration efforts.

Today, we know that many other factors such as sea level rise, water availability and extreme events continue to challenge important components of the Everglades ecosystems.

Partners like The Everglades Foundation are key in promoting our efforts but more importantly in engaging our community to be part of the dialogue towards actionable science,” said Dr. Piero Gardinali, Director of the FIU Institute of Environment’s Division of Freshwater Resources.

The FIU-Everglades Foundation partnership is paramount to the restoration and protection of America’s Everglades. By educating these graduate students and supporting their Everglades research, the partnership is really an investment in the future of the Everglades and other critical environmental resources across the globe.

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SCHOLAR HIGHLIGHT

FIU FOREVERGLADES SCHOLARS

CLASS OF 2019-2020 6

SALTWATER INTRUSION A SILENT KILLER OF THE EVERGLADES ECOSYSTEM BY: LUKAS LAMB

Peat — as in peat soil — is the backbone and building block of the Everglades. I am a FIU Ph.D. student in the Department of Biological Sciences, researching how peat collapse has impacted sawgrass marshes in the coastal Everglades. The data I am gathering will be used to identify and detect areas vulnerable to future collapse.

Saltwater intrusion is a silent killer. It is coming up from beneath the ground, moving farther and farther inland and affecting sawgrass marshes.

While the process may be invisible, the effects can be seen above the ground, especially in vegetation. These effects are noticeable even in one of the toughest, hardiest plants in the Everglades — and the very fabric of the River of Grass — sawgrass.

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The Everglades, of course, urgently needs more freshwater to push back against saltwater intrusion to prevent peat collapse and maintain the delicate balance of saltwater and freshwater. In 2000, Congress authorized the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP) to fix damage caused by the flood control system that was put in place to drain the Everglades for agricultural, residential and commercial development.

My research will help answer an emerging question: How vulnerable are coastal Everglades marshes to the impacts of sea level rise? My research will also provide restoration managers and stakeholders much-needed specifics on where freshwater flow restoration is needed to prevent or slow peat collapse. And because timing is everything to the future of the Everglades, it will also pinpoint when it can make a difference, like in times of drought or during the dry season.

In a race against rising seas, my data will contribute to understanding the fate of mangroves (including the peat soils they produce) and mangrove expansion around Florida’s future coastline.

An unlikely symbol of hope for the Everglades, these tough, gnarled trees are moving inland to areas where sawgrass once flourished, and are helping to build up soil levels. A big part of my project is determining how we can buy time for the mangroves to move into the marshes and help prevent peat collapse.

If these sawgrass marshes collapse before the mangroves have time to move in, the water depths will be too deep for mangroves to even get started.

I know peat collapse means a loss of elevation, habitat, and coastal protection.

Peat collapse makes our coastal Everglades more vulnerable to storm surges, resulting in a vicious cycle with impacts to coastal water quality.

Under the guidance of the Associate Director of Science for FIU’s Sea Level Solutions Center, Dr. Tiffany Troxler, I am using data from the Florida Coastal Everglades Long Term Ecological Research program.

Article originally written by Angela Nicoletti for FIU News and adapted by Lukas Lamb

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INVASIVE JEWELFISH & THE EVERGLADES FOOD CHAIN BY: PETER FLOOD Normally, jewelfish are found in the Nile or for sale in pet shops. Today, they can also be found swimming around in an unlikely place: The Florida Everglades. I want to understand if these non-native fish are hurting or helping different ecosystems across the Everglades.

Jewelfish first began to appear in South Florida waterways in the 1960’s after they were dumped by their owners.

Traveling through the canal systems, they eventually made their way into the Everglades. Their population began to grow rapidly in 2012.

There has not been much research on how jewelfish are interacting with other native fish. As a biology Ph.D. student in the FIU Institute of Environment, I want to fill that research void.

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ONE FISH, TWO FISH RED FISH, JEWELFISH PETER FLOOD

Jewelfish are changing things. With nonnative species there is a perception that they may be helpful in one way, for instance, by providing an alternative food for native species. But there are probably dozens of other ways in which they are having a negative impact. I am going to be looking at different dimensions of the jewelfish invasion. Just because a species is introduced to a new ecosystem, does not necessarily mean it will cause massive disruption.

Using metal enclosures, I am studying the impacts of jewelfish as both prey and predator. Fear of predation can alter a prey species’ behavior in multiple ways, for instance, by reducing foraging. These impacts may have long-term consequences leading to reduced survival or reproduction.

I will study the jewelfish’s fear response to a predatory fish, the native Florida Gar. I will also be measuring the impact jewelfish have on their prey in eliciting a fear response. Jewelfish emit chemical cues through the enclosures into surrounding water that can be detected by their prey. If the prey are too afraid, they won’t enter the enclosure. That means the jewelfish will not eat. The larger implications are jewelfish are not as influenced by the native predator, which may help them avoid the negative consequences of anti-predation, fear responses. Jewelfish may also elicit a stronger fear response from their prey which could impact population and community dynamics of those prey species, as well as other species that rely on them as food such as wading birds.

Article originally written by Nathalie Medina for FIU News and adapted by Peter Flood

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WHAT SATELLITES CAN TELL US ABOUT THE EVERGLADES BY: SELENA CHAVEZ

I want more people to know mangroves are essential to the health of the Everglades.

As a Ph.D. student in the Department of Earth and Environment, I am working to fill important data gaps in what is known about mangrove forests and how they respond to hurricanes. Using remote sensing technology, I am gathering data on the effects Hurricane Irma had on these important trees.

Mangroves have become a symbol of hope in the conservation and restoration of the Everglades. These trees serve as a natural barrier, protecting South Florida from powerful hurricanes. They also protect South Florida from sea level rise. As more mangroves move into inland areas, they help build up soil levels to protect our coastline.

During hurricanes, mangroves take a beating. However, it is difficult for researchers to understand the full scope of the damage.

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My research will gather data to understand how quickly mangroves are recovering after storms — and where they were hit the hardest. This will help restoration managers pinpoint which areas need the most attention and help.

The Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan, the largest hydrologic restoration project ever undertaken in the United States, aims to preserve and protect the Everglades by redirecting freshwater flow back to the south.

The Everglades was not something I knew about growing up. A first-generation American of El Salvadoran parents, I grew up by the Chesapeake Bay. More than 800 miles away, I never imagined my career would bring me to be a researcher supporting one of the biggest restoration programs in the world. Through an internship with NASA and interest in coastal wetlands, I was introduced to the Florida Everglades.

I am using data from the Florida Coastal Everglades Long Term Ecological Research program under the guidance of Earth and Environment professor Dr. Shimon Wdowinski in the Institute of Environment.

Article originally written by Nathalie Medina for FIU News and adapted by Selena Chavez.

"I never imagined my career would bring me to be a researcher supporting one of the biggest restoration programs in the world."

SELENA CHAVEZ

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ALUMNI HIGHLIGHT

THE JOURNEY FROM

MENTEE TO MENTOR 13

DR. SYLVIA LEE

U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY I was a recipient of the 2010 Everglades Foundation’s FIU ForEverglades Scholarship, and I currently work as a scientist in the Office of Research and Development of the United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA).

Through my research, I observed that some diatom species living in Everglades periphyton were not previously described by science, which led to three new species: Mastogloia calcarea, Mastogloia pseudosmithii, and Envekadea metzeltinii.

I credit the scholarship with supporting research and educational activities that were pivotal for my scientific training and professional network development, which led to my position in the federal government.

The Everglades Foundation's FIU ForEverglades scholarship not only supported my research, but it also contributed to my professional development.

I formed important professional relationships with scientists at the Iowa Lakeside Laboratory, who invited me to return as a teaching assistant and later as a professor of the course. This allowed me to develop collaborations with North American and international colleagues. The collaborations proved to be important for my graduate research and are still an important part of my current work at the U.S. EPA.

In 2009, I began as a master’s student in Dr. Evelyn Gaiser’s laboratory at FIU. The Everglades Foundation’s FIU ForEverglades Scholarship enabled me to attend the Ecology and Systematics of Diatoms course in the summer of 2010 at the Iowa Lakeside Laboratory. There, I learned how to identify and conduct research using diatoms, a special group of algae that was the focal organism of my graduate research. I was inspired by the Iowa diatoms course so much that I decided to pursue a Ph.D. This allowed me time to develop and explore more complex research questions about Everglades diatom communities.

I studied how diatoms respond to hydrologic changes and whether they could be used to indicate progression of Everglades restoration efforts.

Today, I work on projects that can help policy-makers and resource managers make evidence-based decisions to protect aquatic ecosystems. I am helping state agencies use information on diatoms to support the development of biological and nutrient-based water quality standards. I am also working to improve diatom taxonomic consistency in large-scale environmental monitoring programs and serving as Chair of the Diatom Taxonomic Certification Committee.

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DR. PAMELA SULLIVAN OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY

I was a recipient of The Everglades Foundation’s FIU ForEverglades Scholarship in 2008. Today, I am an Associate Professor and the Dole Chair in Geosciences at Oregon State University. I credit the scholarship for providing me with the flexibility to conduct detailed research that linked how vegetation governs groundwater flow and the way minerals form and breakdown. This concept steered me toward research in "Critical Zone Science” – a holistic field that studies the slice of Earth that sustains life and extends from the top of the vegetation canopy to groundwater.

In 2008, when I was a student at FIU, tree islands in the Everglades were rapidly disappearing. The Everglades Foundation’s FIU ForEverglades Scholarship allowed me to study this important phenomenon. My work revealed that Everglades tree islands could draw the water table down, pulling in the ions and nutrients carried in the water. These ions and nutrients could accumulate either in the shallow groundwater under the islands, in the vegetation, or in the soil. Modeling suggested that this process could possibly help tree islands to maintain their raised landscape position. This helped me to understand how tree islands impact water flow and chemistry as they begin to establish themselves and how they currently persist in the Everglades.

The Everglades Foundation’s FIU ForEverglades Scholarship was a springboard

for my transition from pursuing a master’s degree to a Ph.D. The ideas that blossomed from writing the scholarship proposal and the support that it provided led me to transition into a doctoral program. This funding more closely linked me to the National Science Foundation (NSF)-funded Florida Coastal Everglades Long Term Ecological Research (FCE LTER) program at FIU that trains students in cross-disciplinary, collaborative research. The benefits of having obtained training through this group laid the foundation for me to become an early career leader in CZO (Critical Zone Observatories), authoring the white paper “New Opportunities for Critical Zone Science." With this publication, I highlighted the past decade of U.S. CZO research and offered a road map for the decade to come. This work was recently underscored in the National Academy of Science Report “Earth in Time,” which was created to set future initiatives by the National Science Foundation.

Today, I am leading a group of researchers who study how land use and climate change impact water storage and quality. I continue to spur the creative approaches I was taught back at FIU by uniting teams of soil scientists, ecologists, biologists, biogeochemists, hydrologists, remote sensors, and modelers. I also bring those ideas into the courses I teach, relying on data-centered learning techniques to invoke curiosity in the Earth Sciences.

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THREATS & RESILIENCY OF SOUTH FLORIDA’S URBAN WATER SUPPLY SYSTEM BY: DR. ANTENEH ABIY, THE EVERGLADES FOUNDATION

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South Florida’s urban area exemplifies why some of the world’s most vulnerable coastal cities may be facing devastating impacts from climate change. The frequency of drought is increasingly threatening freshwater availability across the Everglades, ultimately affecting the urban water supply. Historical rainfall data (over 100 years) indicate the presence of natural, multi-decadal oscillations with distinct phases of normal, above-normal and belownormal rainfall. Since the early 1990s, despite the incidence of short-term dry spells, South Florida has received rainfall that is above-normal. In addition, historical rainfall record analysis shows that the wet season in South Florida is getting shorter.

This is problematic from a water management perspective, as too much rainfall in a short time can lead to higher runoff and urban flooding. It can also lead to a shortage of water later in the year.

Looking at future climate projections, research has hinted at an increased likelihood of below-normal rainfall in the future. This means that droughts will become more severe and the future freshwater availability in the Everglades will be significantly compromised. Hence, the urban water supply system and the health of the Everglades will be adversely affected.

In my research, I used computer simulation models to study the effects of drought, increased municipal water supply pumping, and sea level rise on regional groundwater conditions.

While drought had impacts on the entire study area, groundwater pumping and sea level rise impacts were restricted to the vicinity of wellfields and coastal regions, respectively. Simulations also indicated the potential for increased coastal flooding because of high groundwater table conditions in response to sea level rise. Under the presence of drought and high groundwater pumping, increased sea level rise will remain a critical challenge by exacerbating coastal flooding and accelerated saltwater intrusion.

For four years, I have been studying south Florida hydrology and the Biscayne Aquifer.

In 2018, I was awarded the prestigious Everglades Foundation FIU ForEverglades Scholarship for my Ph.D work. Under the guidance of Dr. Assefa Melesse, my research focused on exploring connections between hydrological stresses (including drought, high groundwater pumping, sea level rise and saltwater intrusion) and the adverse impacts they have on urban water supplies, with a specific focus on southeast Florida. After several years working on improving resiliency of groundwater-dependent urban water supply systems of southeastern Florida under increasing threats of drought and sea level rise, I am happy to join The Everglades Foundation’s science team as the newest member and to continue this critical research.

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EVERGLADES ECONOMY BY: DR. ANDREW STAINBACK, THE EVERGLADES FOUNDATION South Florida is home to about 9 million people, supporting more than $460 billion in economic activity. The heart of this region is the Florida Everglades, a vast wetland ecosystem covering almost 18,000 square miles from south of Orlando to Florida Bay and the Florida Keys. The economy of the region is centered on water and heavily dependent on tourism, recreation, and real estate. Many visitors come because of the unique waterways and natural amenities that are dependent on a healthy Everglades ecosystem.

The region has over $1.3 trillion worth of residential real estate. This enormous value generates substantial economic activity in terms of real estate transactions, maintenance, and other services. The real estate industry accounts for around 22% of Florida’s economy according to the National Association of Realtors.

Further, it is well documented by economists that the value of residential real estate is affected by water quality and environmental health. For example, a study by the Florida Realtors found that an algae bloom in 2013 reduced residential real estate values in Martin County by over $480 million. Given the importance of water to this region, Everglades restoration and water quality protection are essential for the economic welfare of residents and tourists alike.

Even though the economic importance of the Everglades is widely recognized, there is little information precisely quantifying its role. This is particularly the case regarding information about how continued degradation and climate change in the Everglades will impact the economy. Such information is critical for understanding the tradeoffs associated with different conservation policies and management strategies.

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To help fill this gap, The Everglades Foundation and Florida International University (FIU) are collaborating on a research project to understand the economic effects of ecological changes in Lake Okeechobee and the St. Lucie and Caloosahatchee estuaries. Chloe’ Vorseth, a Ph.D. student in the Department of Earth and Environment at FIU, will lead this study as part of her doctoral dissertation. She will be guided by me, an economist for The Everglades Foundation, and Dr. Mahadev Bhat, a professor of environmental economics at FIU. An essential component of this work will be to assess the economic contribution that anglers make to the region’s economy. Anglers spend money on fishing gear, hotels, food, gas, and other services and amenities. They bring business for regional commerce, creating tax revenue, and providing jobs for locals. In a recent study, The Everglades Foundation found that such expenditures on Florida Bay fishing activities generate over $430 billion annually and support over 4,000 jobs.

Expanding that scope to include water bodies like Lake Okeechobee as well as the Caloosahatchee and St. Lucie Estuaries will provide even more information on the importance of recreation to the “Everglades Economy." The information for this study will be obtained by surveying anglers about how much they fish and how much money they spend in the region. Crucially, the study will also gather information about how such expenditures change when the ecological conditions change (e.g. water quality, number of fish, presence of other wildlife).

In future studies, the economic value of other recreational uses (such as bird watching and boating) and other areas of the Everglades region will be incorporated. The goal is to produce a more complete picture of what is at stake in the policy and management choices we face regarding the Everglades.

THE EVERGLADES FOUNDATION FOUND THAT SUCH EXPENDITURES ON FLORIDA BAY FISHING ACTIVITIES

GENERATE OVER $430 BILLION ANNUALLY AND SUPPORT OVER 4,000 JOBS.

THE EVERGLADES FOUNDATION AT

FIU’S WATER SYMPOSIUM WASHINGTON, D.C. FLY-IN FROM THE EYES OF THE EVERGLADES FOUNDATION By: Dr. Thomas Van Lent, The Everglades Foundation

The planet is facing some profound challenges and few are as important as water. After all, what’s the alternative to water? Water underpins not just our environment, but our entire society, including our economy, national security and health. Universities play a pivotal role in addressing the world’s most pressing problems, as they are the incubators of ideas and the training grounds for the next generation of minds.

While Florida International University (FIU) is clearly at the forefront on water issues in Florida, they made a strong case for a national role as demonstrated by their hosting of the symposium - Role of Water: Coastal Health, Wealth, and Resilience in Washington, D.C. in November 2019.

In holding the symposium, FIU brought together government employees, university researchers, corporate representatives, think-tank residents, non-profits and students to discuss their experiences and views on how to build a sustainable future for our coastal communities.

After welcoming remarks from FIU President Mark Rosenberg, the attendees heard from Dr. Lilian Alessa from the University of Idaho, who posited the thought-provoking assertion that consensus is not desirable or even possible for our water issues given the time imperative. She explained that the focus should instead be on finding solutions that are acceptable and workable, rather than a consensus or an optimal solution.

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FIU’s presence in Washington, D.C. was confirmed also by the impressive list of government officials who addressed the group. Their messages echoed the need for cooperation, collaboration and the broader role of each governmental department in water-related efforts.

Participants also heard from Mario Loyola, an economist at the Competitive Enterprise Institute, a think-tank promoting limited government, property rights and decrying “global warming alarmism.” He presented a case for how government programs have unintended consequences, distort markets, are hard to modify, and create uncertainty.

He argued for a limited approach, focusing on adapting to change rather than mitigation.

I moderated a panel that included Camille Touton and Kelly Huffman. Touton is a staffer for the U.S. House of Representatives Transportation and Infrastructure Committee and brought her perspective on practical experience in the executive and legislative branches of government. Huffman, an attorney at Poseidon Water, a private firm specializing in developing and financing large water projects, offered views on the private sector’s role.

agencies, as well as recent concerted efforts have accelerated progress. Sadly though, it is also true that several government programs have resulted in significant setbacks and damage to the Everglades.

These conflicts and contradictions are the Everglades experience and the challenge is to drive progress using the tools that one has onhand.

FIU’s vision of a student-centered event assured that it remained a studentfocused event. University instructors often struggle to make courses of study relevant and engaging, teaching how to deal with complexity and ambiguity, and even contradictions and conflict.

If this symposium is any indication, FIU is truly preparing its students for the “real world.”

Every student had the opportunity to ask questions, provide their viewpoint and exercise critical thinking. Moreover, they got to hear a range of opinions on the role of water and how to face the coming challenges. Students looking for programs that truly prepare them for the challenges they will be facing would be well-served spending time at FIU in Washington, D.C.

I discussed the restoration of the Everglades and how science and policy are inextricably linked. Moreover, I explored how consensus has often impeded progress, as evidenced by the fact that Everglades restoration is 20 years in but progress is slow. Still, cooperation between federal, state, and local

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SOMEWHERE...

SOMETHING INCREDIBLE

IS WAITING TO

BE KNOWN

---

carl sagan

/EVERGLADESFOUNDATION /FIUENVIRONMENT

@EVERGFOUNDATION @FIUENVIRONMENT

FUND A SCHOLAR FUND OUR FUTURE Powerful partnerships are fueled through the shared belief and investment of supporters like you. With only one goal, we work together to protect and restore America’s Everglades.

Join us and invest in the brilliant minds that will forever benefit this national treasure. 100% of your gift will directly support these students and their quest to understand, solve, and advocate for Everglades restoration solutions.

FUND A SCHOLAR GIFTS UP TO $1,000 GIFTS UP TO $2,500 GIFTS UP TO $10,000 GIFTS UP TO $20,000

Friend of FIU-ForEverglades Scholarship Partner of FIU-ForEverglades Scholarship FIU-ForEverglades Graduate Scholar Benefactor FIU-ForEverglades Doctorate Scholar Benefactor

AS AN FIU-FOREVERGLADES SCHOLARSHIP SUPPORTER you will have the opportunity to meet with fellows in the field and learn about their research, and be recognized on The Everglades Foundation and FIU websites and publications.

FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT THE EVERGLADES FOUNDATION GLORIA CALLE, GCALLE@EVERGLADESFOUNDATION.ORG, 305-251-0001 FIU INSTITUTE OF ENVIRONMENT CANDICE ALLOUCH, CALLOUCH@FIU.EDU, 305-919-4121

A COPY OF THE OFFICIAL REGISTRATION AND FINANCIAL INFORMATION FOR THE EVERGLADES FOUNDATION, INC., A FLORIDA-BASED NONPROFIT CORPORATION (REGISTRATION CH 4396), MAY BE OBTAINED FROM THE DIVISION OF CONSUMER SERVICES BY CALLING TOLL-FREE 1-800-HELP-FLA (435-7352) WITHIN THE STATE OR VISITING THEIR WEBSITE WWW.FRESHFROMFLORIDA.COM/DIVISIONSOFFICES/CONSUMER-SERVICES. REGISTRATION DOES NOT IMPLY ENDORSEMENT, APPROVAL, OR RECOMMENDATION BY THE STATE. FCE-LTER FUNDED BY NSF COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT #DEB-1237517