Kissimmee Basin: the Northern Everglades overview

Project Overview

Fall, 2011

Throughout the centuries, the Everglades have inspired strong emotion and debate among soldiers and poets, politicians and citizens. Its history is as broad and sprawling as the “River of Grass” itself. Although many stories have been told about the Everglades from drainage to restoration, few have been told about where it all begins: the Kissimmee River Basin. Restoration and protection of the natural values of this vast, watery landscape may well hold the key to restoration of the Greater Everglades ecosystem..

The Kissimmee Basin: the Northern Everglades invites you to take a trip up the Kissimmee Valley back through time to discover the well reasoned, yet unforeseen consequences of a flood control project that turned the 103 mile-long meandering river full of life, into a 52-mile long, multi-million dollar over-engineered channel that over drained the surrounding wetlands, caused the disappearance of large flocks of wading birds and caused a significant decline of an abundant freshwater fishery.

Meet the cattle ranchers whose families have cared for the Kissimmee River Basin for generations.

Discover the high stakes surrounding Kissimmee’s future and how changes made to it’s waterway are directly affecting the well-being of millions of people and many species of fish and wildlife.

Witness innovative and collaborative solutions actively at work among interests traditionally in competition with one another..

Lush and ethereal cinematography and rare historic photos bring the Kissimmee’s story into sharp focus. In-depth interviews bring you face-to-face with the engineers, activists, ranchers, military personnel and politicians who populate the pages of this river’s history.

The Kissimmee Basin: the Northern Everglades takes an in-depth and fascinating look at how changing the Kissimmee River’s shape has, in turn, changed lives – and ultimately the history of this beautiful landscape.