Table 21. Excerpts of the anecdotal and historical chronology of events that affected the marine 
environment of the Florida Keys from 1714 to the present prepared by The Nature Conservancy 
(text as found in draft document except for minor editing) [DeMaria (in press)]. 
Year(s) 
Event 
1917 
Canals dug in the Cape area for drainage. Before ditches were dug, fishing was 
not great in that area. Afterward, once the ditches were opened and connected 
all the lakes to each other, the fishing became phenomenal. 
1917 
1918-1923 
Sponge disease hits the lower Keys. 
Everglades Drainage District was formed to cut canals and drain the muck lands 
of the Everglades. 
1919 
1920-1963 
Lobster regulations in existence. 
Intensive time for water management. Conservation areas are enclosed for 
better management control. Cut off the flow of water going into the northeast 
Shark River slough which causes seepage problems for the Biscayne Aquifer. 
1 926 
October, large lobster crawl observed off Elliot Key. 
A hurricane blows water out of Lake Okeechobee and drowns many people. Soon 
afterwards, the Army Corps of Engineers begins building a dike to hold the 
water in the lake. (Note: The hurricane hit while canals were being dug in the 
Everglades.) 
Bad year for lobsters fishing in the upper Keys. 
The Upper Keys Highway opens. 
1 928 
Tamiami Trail Highway has some culverts, but is still an impediment to the 
southward flow of water. It officially opens. 
1 929 
The canals overdrained the area and did not provide for adequate flood 
protection during heavy rains. 
Work is completed on the Miami, Hillsboro, and North New River canals which 
are designed to drain the Everglades. 
1929-1930 
1929-1950 
1930s 
1931 
1932 
1932-1935 
1934 
Winter, temperature reaches 32°F numerous times in Miami. 
No major changes to water management in the Everglades. 
No lobster in Key West. 
Scientists growing conch pearls in Key West. 
Unusually cold winter. 
Lobster leave the Keys. None around to be harvested. 
July, first tourism push by the state of Florida in order to revive the economy 
Pre 1935 
of Key West. 
Huge drifts of grass observed in the west Florida Bay area. 
Prior to 1935, the upper Bay is sealed off from other water bodies due to the 
construction of the railroad, which is almost all filled causeways. There are no 
1 935 
bridges from Lower Matecumbe Key to Key Largo and Homestead. 
September 2, the Great Labor Day Hurricane hits the Keys. The eye wall passes 
over Islamorada. Describing the scene during and after the great 1935 
hurricane: ‘Blue, green and gold vistas had turned lead gray". Waves crash 
over track in Islamorada, which is only seven feet above sea level. Seventeen 
foot high tidal wave crosses over tracks. Forty two miles of roadbed are 
washed out. A temporary track of fill was constructed in order to get the old 
1936 
447 engine free. 
September, mangroves in the middle keys wiped out due to hurricane. 
Flood Control Act of 1936 gives the Army Corps of Engineers responsibility for 
federal flood protection. 
1937-1938 
Winter is very dry. 
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