Everglades Drought 2026: Captain Greg Shows CBS Miami the Conditions
Everglades Drought 2026: Captain Greg Shows CBS Miami the Conditions
A Severe Dry Season in the Florida Everglades
This account recalls the 2026 dry season through Captain Greg’s time on the water. He describes low water, changing wildlife patterns and stressed vegetation along his routes. The Everglades Foundation’s July 2, 2026 summary of CBS Miami coverage documents drought-level water shortages and wildfire concerns. These observations illustrate local conditions, rather than establishing a record for the entire Everglades.
When CBS Miami came out to cover the story, Captain Greg, owner of Airboat Adventures Everglades, took them straight into the areas most affected. Not the tourist spots, but the real Everglades. The places where the River of Grass should be flowing, where wading birds should be feeding, and where the marsh should be alive.
Watch the CBS Miami feature https://youtu.be/uJKkasqvZVc?si=WZczIRryi7HE_2WX
What CBS Miami Saw With Captain Greg
Out on the water, Greg showed CBS Miami exactly how severe the drought had become.
Water levels dropped so low that normally flooded areas turned into open mud flats Marsh beds dried out and cracked under the sun Wildlife crowded into smaller pockets of habitat Vegetation browned and thinned far earlier than usual
For people who do not spend time in the Glades, it is easy to assume dry season is just dry season. This year was different. This was a warning sign that affects every part of the Everglades ecosystem.
Wildfires Followed the Drought
After months of extreme dryness, the Everglades saw multiple wildfires break out across the region. Smoke columns rose over the horizon, sawgrass burned, and tree islands were scorched. Fire crews worked nonstop to keep the flames from spreading into new areas.
Fire is part of the Everglades’ natural ecology. Under severe drought conditions, fires can burn into dry organic soils and cause lasting damage. The outcome depends on soil moisture, habitat and fire conditions; it is not the same for every fire.
The Everglades Foundation Speaks Out
During the CBS Miami coverage, The Everglades Foundation also spoke about the severity of this year’s drought and the long term risks it poses. Their scientists have been warning for years that water mismanagement, climate shifts, and invasive species are putting more pressure on the Everglades than ever before.
Learn more about their work https://www.evergladesfoundation.org
Their mission aligns closely with what Captain Greg sees every day. An ecosystem that needs protection, restoration, and public awareness.
Invasive Species Make the Problem Worse
Invasive species add another pressure to the Everglades. Burmese pythons have documented impacts on native mammals, but drought responses vary by species and conditions.
Greg describes the changes below from his own time in the field. These are his personal observations, not a controlled wildlife survey or proof that drought benefits every invasive species.
Fewer raccoons, rabbits, and birds in python heavy areas Chameleons and iguanas pushing deeper into the Glades Native species losing ground they cannot afford to lose
This is why python removal and invasive species control matter. Every python removed is one less predator destroying native wildlife.
Why Protecting the Everglades Matters
The Everglades is one of the most important ecosystems in the world. It is the drinking water source for millions of Floridians. It is home to species found nowhere else. It is a living river that stretches across the bottom of the state.
When it dries out like this, it is a reminder of how fragile it really is and how much work goes into protecting it.
People like Captain Greg, The Everglades Foundation, and countless conservationists work every day to keep the River of Grass alive. Awareness matters too. The more people understand what is happening out here, the better chance we have of saving it.
See the Everglades Through the Eyes of a Real Gladesman
If you want to understand the Everglades the way Greg does, you have to see it for yourself. Not from the highway, not from a boardwalk, but from the water.
Airboat Adventures Everglades Miami Florida 305 766 1929 FloridaTourCompany.com Instagram at airboat adventures everglades
Ride with real Gladesmen See what CBS Miami saw Learn why the Everglades needs us now more than ever
For more about the guide behind this report, read our captain story and CBS coverage.
Scientific context: The Everglades Foundation explains how dry soils can increase the risk of deep-burning fires. USGS research links Burmese pythons to severe declines in native mammals; Greg’s sightings are separate from those published studies.
