WCA - Everglades Conditions Update

(Jan. 22, 2008)

 

Rainfall:

The past week brought with it a fair amount of rain, especially in the northern sections of the Everglades (see Raindar.gif). Average rain in WCA-1 was 0.39” for the week. WCA-2A received about 0.3”. WCA-3A received about 0.35”. Average for the Park was about 0.16”. Most stations in the ENP saw only trace amounts (< 0.1”) of rainfall over the 7 d period.  With an average pan evaporation of 0.9”, this was another deficit water budget week (see srs.pdf).

 

Water Conservation Areas:

GOOD dry-season recession rates continue to dominate the region (see WCA_stages.xls). WCA-3B was the only area where recession rates were POOR due to little change over of the last few weeks. This should not set off any alarms and desires to decrease WCA-3B water levels at this time because water levels are below average for this time of year. Stages in WCA-1 are below Regulation, WCA-3 stages continue to be significantly below regulation, and WCA-2A remains above regulation (see WCA_reg_stages.doc).

 

Everglades National Park:

ENP wetland water levels continue to decline (see Stages.pdf).  Taylor Sl. Bridge saw the most substantial weekly drop of nearly 1.6”, which is not unusual for this station.  Water level in Shark River Sl. (station P33) declined by 0.6” over the week.  Stage in both of these areas remains well below average for this time year (compared to the previous decadal average), off by 1.25’ at TSB & by 0.75’ at P33. 

 

Salinity concentrations decreased slightly or remained stable in Florida Bay last week (see Salinity.pdf).  The 30 d moving average concentration at TR (used for to monitor exceedances to the FL Bay MFL rule) is still low at close to 3 psu.  In the SRS outflow at Tarpon Bay, salinity measured 12.5 psu as of Sunday 1/20, above average for this time of year (typically concentrations remain in the single digits until much later in the dry season); this is not surprising given the low water levels in SRS. 

 

Wildlife:

Most wading birds continue to forage in the NW region of WCA-2A. Despite below average water levels in WCA-3A and 3B, foraging in support of nesting behavior is not expected to occur there until February. There is nothing new to report on the status of spoonbills in Fl Bay.

 


 

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