When Ed and I recently visited Flamingo and rented a boat to explore White Water Bay, my goal had been to find the Shark River. I never found it…
I had wanted to see this river because although there are many Everglades’ rivers, the Shark is the most associated with Shark River Slough. Even though this slough, this river of grass, has been amputated by the Everglades Agricultural Area, Tamiami Trail, and eastern coastal development, getting waters into Shark River Slough and the Shark River still translates and is actually improving: “Sending Water South.”
So we took a flight…
Ponce de Leon Bay, where much of this water exits, is particularly breathtaking to see. The geometric shapes, shades of green, brown, and blue create a giant puzzle. It makes me want to put all the pieces back tother again.
It was so wonderful to finally find the Shark River! I wanted you to see it too! The primary goal remains, to send more water south; this we must envision…
-Everglades Rivers flowing southwest out of Shark River Slough 1-21-21, photos JTL&EL
-Ponce de Leon Bay where Shark River exits into Florida Bay
–The Shark River is the primary river you see coming into this area of Ponce de Leon Bay. White Water Bay is to the right. It all kind of blends together. 
- Shark River, red dot follow northeast; 2. Shark River Slough, large most far right area above shark river -seemingly brownish green – running into Shark River 3. Water Water Bay appears as a dark green depression southeast of and connected to the Shark River; 4. Shark River exits at Ponce de Leon Bay into Florida Bay. Florida Bay is in dire need of more fresh water.
Why can’t more fresh water flow into Florida Bay now that there are bridges on Tamiami Trail? Is it due to the Phosphorus level of the Lake O. & EAA water?
Florida overall is not meeting water quality standards. Yes in the EAA with a ton of support from UF and SFWMD. We will not really be able to send more water south until the state meets WQ standards and it is the state’s responsility through DEP, FDACS and SFWMD. DEP has the regulation role, FDAS has the BMP role and the SFWMD has the “amount” role whatever that means. Projects really. This is my pet peeve. Also there are issues with “flooding” out the lower east coast like the 8.5 mile area. So now the goal is to build a curtain wall. A giant cement wall under ground to halt some of the seepage. I guess we are doing the best we can, but it is all really a mess.
BTW, thanks for the great aerial pictures from you & Ed!!
Thank you Mike!!
That is a tangle of little rivers so it’s hard to determine which is the Shark. One could certainly get lost. You are lucky to get a birds-eye view. Thanks for sharing it.
Thanks Mom. If I was Todd, I would mark it with a red arrow… Hope it still helped.
Thanks to you both for the documentation and visuals from the sky.
Thank you Mike!
That’s awesome Jacqui – to even think you could see it is intriguing,
Hi Steve. I remember our long flight over South Florida – -the built out part. It is, all, so amazing!