,- Florida International University, Florida International University, Earth and Environment, Miami, United States of America (melessea@fiu.edu)
Surface Water–Groundwater Interactions and Flow Variability in the Everglades: Implications for Freshwater Delivery to Florida Bay
Assefa Melesse, Ethiopia Zeleke, Alemayehu Shanko, Tania, Islam, Rene Price
Department of Earth and Environment, Institute of Environment
Florida International University, Miami, USA
Abstract
The dynamic exchange between surface water and groundwater is critical for impacting the functions of the Everglades ecosystem. The spatiotemporal variability of freshwater exchanges related to freshwater delivery to Florida Bay is not adequately characterized or understood. This study focuses on the results of a comprehensive data analysis to examine the flow variability and surface–groundwater interactions, with a particular focus on freshwater delivery through Taylor sloughs to Florida Bay. Field observations and historical long-term monitoring data were used in the analysis to estimate the spatiotemporal patterns and trends of surface–groundwater interactions under varying climatic and water management conditions. Statistical approaches were applied to identify dominant controls on flow variability and exchange processes. The spatial heterogeneity of interactions was significant, indicating that freshwater exchange rates vary across different hydrogeologic settings in relation to seasonal water variations and rainfall volumes. This analysis reveals how water delivery through Taylor slough to Florida Bay is highly inter-annual and seasonal mainly driven by climatic as well as water management decisions. Given the sensitivity of the salinity regime of Florida Bay to freshwater inflow, the findings of this analysis have important implications for ecosystem restoration. This analysis provides insights into the coupled surface‒subsurface hydrological processes that govern water movement in this unique wetland system, contributing to the improved understanding necessary for effective water management and ecosystem restoration in the greater Everglades landscape.
Keywords: Everglades, Surface–groundwater interactions, Florida Bay, Taylor slough, Flow variability
How to cite: Melesse, A., Zeleke, E., Shanko, A., Islam, T., and Price, R.: Surface Water–Groundwater Interactions and Flow Variability in the Everglades: Implications for Freshwater Delivery to Florida Bay, EGU General Assembly 2026, Vienna, Austria, 3–8 May 2026, EGU26-7674, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu26-7674, 2026.
