The portion of the Everglades used in this model encompasses about
7,500 
, from Lake Okeechobee to Florida Bay. The area includes
eighteen vegetation types (Figure 1), with the
most prevalent being freshwater marsh and wetlands.
The climate in South Florida is subtropical, with a dry season from mid
fall through late spring and a wet season during the summer.
Precipitation is a major route by which water enters the Everglades,
with approximately 75% falling from May through October
[DMMM94]. Average annual rainfall in the area
ranges from 55-65 inches. The study area terrain is almost flat,
with elevations ranging from 10m in the north to 1m in the
south [CGF+95].
