Environmental issues in South Florida uncovered

These articles highlight the environmental challenges in South Florida, particularly focusing on the impacts of storms and rising sea levels.

In Key West, cruise ships churn up sediment, worsening water quality more than hurricanes occasionally do. Lizard populations shift in Florida due to invasive species, altering mosquito feeding patterns. In Miami, real estate values don't yet reflect the increasing flood risks from climate change.

Catch up with the stories below.

A Norwegian cruise ship churns up sediment as it motors into Key West Harbor.

NO. 1: CRUISE SHIPS STIR UP A HURRICANE’S WORTH OF SEDIMENT, KEY WEST MONITORING SHOWS

That sediment can smother corals and sea grass. | Published December 28, 2024 | Read Full Story by Jenny Staletovich

Peter’s rock agamas have spread across Florida, in some places pushing aside native species like the brown anole. That shift in the reptile population could potentially have ripple effects on mosquitoes and the spread of diseases . By Alex Grimsley

NO. 2: HOW A TURF WAR BETWEEN LIZARDS IN FLORIDA IMPACTS MOSQUITOES AND MAYBE YOUR HEALTH

Researchers are looking at the role a tiny lizard plays in protecting us from mosquito-borne diseases | Published March 5, 2025 | Read Full Story by Denise Hruby

Despite a ‘rain bomb’ that flooded this home in the Edgewood neighborhood of Fort Lauderdale in April 2023, property values there have largely rebounded in the months since. By Matias J. Ocner

NO. 3: CLIMATE CHANGE IS COMING FOR FLORIDA’S REAL ESTATE. WHY DON’T PRICES REFLECT IT?

So far, property values have remained remarkably resilient to flood risks – more resilient than many of the actual homes. | Published May 6, 2025 | Read Full Story by Alex Harris

The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories listed were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.