For those who have fished the Everglades over the years, the changes in the great "River of Grass" have been alternately depressing and exhilarating.

The massive restoration of the Kissimmee River, the main feeder artery of the Glades, which starts in what is now Disney World land and flows through many miles of wet prairie, flatland lakes and sawgrass flats before dumping into Lake Okeechobee, was a first big step in starting to improve water quality not only in the "Big O" but also in the Everglades, which it feeds out the south end.

Florida governor (and Presidential candidate) Ron DeSantis early this year signed a bill granting some $3.5 billion in long term funding for continuing restoration of the "River of Grass", winning accolades from both Democrats and Republicans--a rarity these days.

Just last week, DeSantis signed off on more than $625 Million in state funding for addedEverglades restoration and water-quality improvement projects.

The goal sounds simple but is complicated, requiring not just sending more water through the southern Everglades and into Florida Bay but ensuring that bordering communities aren’t flooded in the process.

Wildlife has rebounded in many areas across the system. Scientists report rising rates of bird and alligator nesting to the south in Shark River Slough, the main flow-way toward the coast. Historic levels of flow were reported there early this year. (Unfortunately, the continuing spread of invasive pythons is making a dent in some bird and small game populations, but thus far the increased habitat has overall kept pace with the increased predation except in the eastern portions where the snakes are most abundant.)

To the north, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers recently finished restoring the Kissimmee River to its natural meandering state. This not only cleaned the water going to Okeechobee, it turned on the bass and panfish in the river like it has not been in decades. (Hint--go after big rains up river and fish the dam flow-ways with crankbaits. Jumbo bass stack up in these spots when the flow is strongest.)

A newly built reservoir near the St. Lucie River soaks up more rain, meaning less dirty lake water is discharged to the east and west coasts. Former releases have periodically triggered fish-killing algae explosions on both coasts.

Farther south, a now-elevated section of Tamiami Trail lets more water flow to swaths of Everglades National Park long cut off from the natural flow.

Scientists say storing more water and routing it to the right places will also make the Everglades and South Florida more resilient to the projected impacts of increasing sea rise and the potential for wetter hurricanes.

Some important signs can be seen in the northeast end of Shark River Slough. Areas that used to be bone dry and prone to wildfires are finally staying soaked for the whole year, the way they were before dredging and canals siphoned off so much water, researchers say.

The western portion still needs restoration, and it will be years in the making, but there has been a strong start and a lot of observable progress that should make conservation forces just as happy as they should make anglers who catch more snook, tarpon, redfish and trout as a result of what happens many miles north.

Added funding and continuing support like that from the Everglades Coalition, an umbrella group that pairs angling organizations with conservation groups, promises continuing progress. Learn more about them here: https://www.evergladescoalition.org/about.

-- Frank Sargeant
frankmako1@gmail.com