Audubon’s Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary hosted the 11th Annual Corkscrew Watershed Science Forum on June 6, 2025, welcoming a record crowd of more than 130 participants to the University of Florida/IFAS Collier County Extension.
What is the Corkscrew Watershed Science Forum?
Founded by Sanctuary science staff in 2015, this one-day meeting brings together scientists, engineers, and other professionals working within the Corkscrew Watershed to present their work to their colleagues, policy partners, decision makers, and other stakeholders. This meeting has grown as a platform for scientific presentations as well as opportunities for networking, productive discussion, and building collaborations.
Keynote Presentation by Charlette Roman
The event kicked off with a keynote presentation by Charlette Roman, South Florida Water Management District Governing Board & Chair, Big Cypress Basin Board, who expressed her appreciation for the cross-section of experts and enthusiasts gathered to discuss watershed science. She touted the progress already made around Southwest Florida as part of the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan. She also shared perspectives about the Corkscrew Watershed Initiative, a three-year project planning study which, following science conducted and shared by Audubon, is now underway to identify restoration opportunities to improve water flows in and around the Sanctuary.
“It’s working!” says Roman, who explained how a result of this complex compendium of restoration projects will provide better flexibility for water managers in the future.
Presentations
Presentations centered on water quantity and quality issues, including how local beaches are recovering from multiple hurricanes, a project being designed to improve water storage in Lee County, trends observed in waterbird and aquatic organism communities, and “the water-fish connection,” presented by Audubon’s Director of Conservation and forum creator Shawn Clem, PhD.
Other presentations covered the use of machine-learning in Audubon’s camera-trapping project, a history of prescribed fire in Florida, how the Florida Department of Transportation is incorporating wildlife crossings around the state, and a suite of land stewardship updates from Collier County, SFWMD, and Audubon’s Land Stewardship Manager Allyson Webb.
The event culminated with a networking social at the Sanctuary, where more ideas were shared amongst participants and sparks ignited for future collaborations for more resilience around the watershed.
