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Subsidence of Organic Soils in the Florida Everglades
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1956
Year
EngineeringSoil Organic MatterSoil ConservationPeat SoilLand DegradationEarth ScienceSocial SciencesSoil CharacterizationOrganic GeochemistrySoil EnvironmentLandscape ProcessesBiogeochemistrySoil ScienceGeographyMuck SoilsSoil DegradationAbstract SubsidenceFlorida EvergladesHydrologySediment TransportLand Subsidence
Abstract Subsidence of peat and muck soils in the Everglades has been observed and recorded since 1914. An average subsidence rate of approximately 1¼ inches per year was found by periodic survey over 15 profile lines. Water‐table test plots showed that loss of peat soil depended directly upon depth of drainage. The relation is expressed by the equation , in which x equals subsidence rate in inches per year and y equals average depth of water table in inches. This rate is about double that found in similar studies by investigators in Indiana. Isopachous charts showing the original depth of the peat soils in 1912, in 1925, and in 1950 are shown for the agricultural area near Lake Okeechobee and projected to the year A.D. 2000. Steps which will minimize soil losses are outlined.