The Everglades also resupplies fresh water to much of the aquifer that provides drinking (etc.) water to most of S. FL. In fact, agricultural and other development has already caused considerable problems with saltwater contamination of freshwater supplies.
Amen. The depletion of the freshwater aquifer also seems to have contributed to ground subsidence in the Miami area.
Balderdash. Lake Okeechobee supplies most of South Florida’s drinking water. There’s no need to keep the Everglades in protected status. It is a useless swamp that should be drained and developed into prime real estate.