---
kind: "section"
citation: "16 U.S.C. § 410r–5"
title: "16"
title_heading: "Conservation"
number: "410r–5"
heading: "Findings, purposes, and definitions"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/16/410r-5"
units:
  - "Chapter 1 — National Parks, Military Parks, Monuments, and Seashores"
  - "Subchapter LIV — Everglades National Park"
---

# §410r–5. Findings, purposes, and definitions

- (a) **Findings—** The Congress makes the following findings:
  - (1) The Everglades National [Park](#c-3) is a nationally and internationally significant resource and the [park](#c-3) has been adversely affected and continues to be adversely affected by external factors which have altered the ecosystem including the natural hydrologic conditions within the [park](#c-3).
  - (2) The existing boundary of Everglades National [Park](#c-3) excludes the contiguous lands and waters of the Northeast Shark River Slough that are vital to long-term protection of the [park](#c-3) and restoration of natural hydrologic conditions within the [park](#c-3).
  - (3) Wildlife resources and their associated habitats have been adversely impacted by the alteration of natural hydrologic conditions within the [park](#c-3), which has contributed to an overall decline in fishery resources and a 90 percent population loss of wading birds.
  - (4) Incorporation of the Northeast Shark River Slough and the East Everglades within the [park](#c-3) will limit further losses suffered by the [park](#c-3) due to habitat destruction outside the present [park](#c-3) boundaries and will [preserve](/usc/16/698u–1.md?p=2) valuable ecological resources for use and enjoyment by future generations.
  - (5) The [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) of Florida and certain of its political [subdivisions](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=15) or agencies have indicated a willingness to transfer approximately 35,000 acres of lands under their jurisdiction to the [park](#c-3) in order to protect lands and water within the [park](#c-3), and may so transfer additional lands in the future.
  - (6) The [State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) of Florida has proposed a joint Federal-[State](/usc/16/590q.md?p=a) effort to protect Everglades National [Park](#c-3) through the [acquisition](/usc/16/620e.md?p=1) of additional lands.
- (b) **Purposes—** The purposes of sections 410r–5 to [410r–8](/usc/16/410r–8.md) of this title are to—
  - (1) increase the level of protection of the outstanding natural values of Everglades National [Park](#c-3) and to enhance and restore the ecological values, natural hydrologic conditions, and public enjoyment of such [area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) by adding the [area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) commonly known as the Northeast Shark River Slough and the East Everglades to Everglades National [Park](#c-3); and
  - (2) assure that the [park](#c-3) is managed in order to maintain the natural abundance, diversity, and ecological integrity of [native](/usc/16/3102.md?p=16) plants and animals, as well as the behavior of [native](/usc/16/3102.md?p=16) animals, as a part of their ecosystem.
- (c) **Definitions—** As used in sections 410r–5 to [410r–8](/usc/16/410r–8.md) of this title:
  - (1) The term “Secretary” means the Secretary of the Interior.
  - (2) The term “addition” means the approximately 107,600 acre [area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) of the East Everglades [area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) authorized to be added to Everglades National [Park](#c-3) by sections 410r–5 to [410r–8](/usc/16/410r–8.md) of this title.
  - (3) The term “park” means the [area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) encompassing the existing boundary of Everglades National Park and the [addition](#c-2) [area](/usc/16/539m–1.md?p=1-A) described in [paragraph (2)](#c-2).
  - (4) The term “project” means the Central and Southern Florida Project.

## Source credit

(Pub. L. 101–229, title I, § 101, Dec. 13, 1989, 103 Stat. 1946.)

## Notes

### Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

### Short Title of 1997 Amendment

Pub. L. 105–82, § 1, Nov. 13, 1997, 111 Stat. 1540, provided that: “This Act [amending section 410r–7 of this title, enacting provisions set out as a note under section 410r–7 of this title, and amending provisions listed in a table of Wilderness Areas set out under section 1132 of this title] may be cited as the ‘Marjory Stoneman Douglas Wilderness and Ernest F. Coe Visitor Center Designation Act’.”

### Short Title

Pub. L. 101–229, § 1, Dec. 13, 1989, 103 Stat. 1946, provided that: “This Act [enacting this section and sections 410r–6 to 410r–8 of this title] may be cited as the ‘Everglades National Park Protection and Expansion Act of 1989’.”