Patterns of Flow and more art by Mark Cook

Like blood vessels on a human heart, the recent increased flows of freshwater entering Florida Bay create rarely seen dendritic patterns in the nearshore sediments. Historically, the volumes of freshwater entering the bay were considerably greater than they are today, meaning that its estuarine waters were less saline, more productive, and supported a greater diversity and abundance of fauna and flora. Record breaking rainfall in the fall of 2020, combined with ongoing restoration activities, promoted a return of these flows for the first time in decades. In this image, a large adult alligator, a freshwater species not typically seen in the salty waters of the bay, takes advantage of the flows and the increased abundances of fish that result from them.