Battleground Everglades

“Survival at Stake” - Florida’s next generation of environmental stewards trek through a cypress swamp. Important updates on environmental issues from the series premiere are explored, underscoring how Everglades restoration has become a “classroom to the world” on saving complex wetlands.

Join host Charles J. Kropke for this landmark PBS series, Battleground Everglades.

Florida’s balmy, enticing climate draws more than tourists – it’s also created the largest invasive species crisis in the Continental United States. Countless non-native plants, animals, reptiles and insects are wreaking havoc on the rare ecosystems of the Everglades…changing this precious resource forever.

South Florida is at the epicenter of a world-wide threat from sea level rise. While national media attention has focused on flooded streets in Miami Beach, DANGEROUS SEAS examines the effects sea level rise is also having on the delicate Everglades ecosystems, and South Florida’s fragile drinking water supply.

Host Charles J. Kropke interviews people offering unique perspectives on the Everglades. These include an outdoor enthusiast or “Gladesman;” a Miccosukee Indian preserving ancestral traditions and the ecosystem; the leader of Guardians of the Glades; and a longtime government advisor and advocate for Everglades restoration.

The Battle Over Big Water examines the history behind Lake Okeechobee's imperiled condition, and possible solutions for some level of restoration. From the disastrous straightening of the Kissimmee River, to the buildup of pollution from agriculture, development and flood protection, much damage has been done in the name of progress.

In the summer of 2016, portions of Florida's East and West coasts were blanketed with toxic, foul-smelling blue-green algae. National news media reported the extensive economic and environmental damage. Residents worried about reports linking toxic algae with potential damage to human organs and neurological systems. Delicate estuaries lost invaluable oyster beds, sea grasses and more.