An Ugly Battle Over One Of Florida's Most Precious Resources Is Underway

The Everglades are one of Florida's most precious resources, but bad weather and a political fight may put the rich land in limbo.

The Everglades are among the most unique wetlands in the world. The World Wildlife Fund explains the area is home to "extraordinary biological richness" with habitats that support a "rich assemblage of species." Its ability to house so much life is why Everglades National Park has been recognized as a World Heritage Site since 1979. You can see some of the land's beautiful and rare creatures in the slideshow above.

But the region didn't fare well during South Florida's dry winter. According to the U.S. Drought Monitor, areas of the state that contain Everglades National Park slipped deeper into drought over the recent months, further drying out land that was already low on fresh water. Salinity increased to much higher levels in Florida Bay, according to the Miami Herald, creating a deadly situation for sea life.

Oh, and Burmese pythons are taking over the swamp, wiping out small mammals while having no predators to fear, CBS News reported.

Environmental groups warn lawmakers that the Everglades are spiraling out of control, and something needs to be done about it. A 20-day special session began Monday, and conservation groups are expected to pressure politicians to purchase land they say is necessary to store water and then funnel it into the parched region.

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Environmentalists say a 40,000- to 60,000 acre reservoir is needed south of Lake Okeechobee, to divert polluted water and provide the Everglades with desperately needed fresh water, the Naples Herald said.

"We cannot and we will not give up on the goal of buying land for a reservoir south of Lake Okeechobee," said Florida Audubon Executive Director Eric Draper during a news conference last week. "We know that we need to get some type of project south of Lake Okeechobee so we can take that water out of the lake, we can treat it, we can deliver it to the Everglades, where it can help to recharge the water supply and make the Everglades wetter."

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This effort by environmental groups comes just weeks after a previous deal was shot down by the state government. According to the Sun-Sentinel, the South Florida Water Management District opted to pass on buying 46,800 acres of land south of Lake Okeechobee that would have been used for water storage. That purchase would cost the state some $700 million, but building the reservoir could cost an additional $2.5 billion, district officials said in the report.

"I don't want to go spend a couple billion dollars and not solve the problem," district Board Chairman Daniel O'Keefe told the Sun-Sentinel. "This can't be the shiny thing that distracts us from getting the projects done."

Now, officials and proponents of Everglades restoration must go back to the drawing board in hopes that a deal can be made.