M E M O R A N D U M
TO: Chip
Merriam, Deputy Executive Director, Water Resources
FROM: SFWMD
Staff Environmental Advisory Team
DATE: January
27, 2009
SUBJECT: Weekly
Environmental Conditions for Systems Operations
Summary
Discharge from
On December 15, 2008, the
United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) discontinued base flows to the Saint
Lucie estuary and increased flows to the Caloosahatchee Estuary to 650 cfs. Monday the
USACE completed a seven day pulse release to the Caloosahatchee Estuary that
averaged 650 cfs over the seven days. Wednesdayday, the
USACE will initiate another seven day pulse release to the Caloosahatchee
Estuary that will also average 650 cfs per day.
Background
Warmer
Tuesday and Wednesday; showers Thursday and Friday. Southeasterly and southwesterly winds are
bringing warmer temperatures and a return of moisture to the area. Expect some spotty to widely scattered
showers to pop up southeast Tuesday and then north and east Wednesday. A cold front is forecast to move into the
District during the day Thursday and then weaken near
Over the last
seven days, the upper Kissimmee Basin received 0.09 inches of rainfall to bring
the 30 day total to 0.42 inches (18% of average) and the lower Kissimmee Basin
received 0.05 inches of rain to bring the 30 day total to 0.31inches (17% of
average).
Stage in Lakes
Kissimmee, Hatchineha and
On January 27,
2009 the District in collaboration with the Florida Fish and Wildlife
Conservation Commission treated the final 200 acres of a targeted 7,181 acres
of hydrilla in
Snail kite
courtship and nesting behaviors are beginning to be observed around
Discharge from
The dry season
drawdown of the Pool B/C area is on track to reach a low stage target of 33
feet on or around May 15th 2009.
Dissolved oxygen
concentrations in the
According to the USACE web
site,
A small (approx. 3 acres in
size) population of the invasive old world climbing fern (Lygodium
microphyllum) has been reported growing in the littoral
zone near Moore Haven. This is the first
report of this species on the lake, and dry conditions in recent years likely facilitated
its establishment. Ground crews are
treating the infestation, which is expected to be eradicated with repeated
treatments. This same crew is treating
other invasive plants, including scattered Melaleuca
and Brazilian Pepper, throughout the littoral zone.
An interagency meeting was
held last Friday to begin developing a fire management program for
Saint Lucie Estuary
Over the past week discharge
averaged 0 cfs at
S-80. Discharge from the
|
Weekly Average Salinity
(ppt) |
|
|
Sampling Site |
Surface |
Bottom |
Envelope |
|
11.8 (12.2) |
14.5 (14.0) |
|
HR1 (N. Fork) |
20.1 (NR) |
|
|
|
22.0 (21.7) |
22.2 (22.1) |
8.0 – 25.0 |
A1A Bridge |
27.7 (29.6) |
29.0 (30.6) |
20.0 – 31.0 |
Salinity changed slightly
during the past week. At the
Caloosahatchee Estuary
During the last week,
discharge averaged 667 cfs
at S-79, 585 cfs at S-78, and 952 cfs
at S-77. The concentration of chlorides
at the Olga Plant was 63 ppm on Monday, January
26th. The current weekly
average salinities (in bold) at the six monitoring sites in the Caloosahatchee
Estuary are given below in parts per thousand (ppt),
along with the previous week’s (in parenthesis).
|
Weekly Average Salinity
(ppt) |
|
Sampling Site |
Surface |
Bottom |
|
1.7 (2.5) |
1.8 (2.5) |
Rt. 31 Bridge |
1.7 (3.1) |
2.5 (3.1) |
I-75 Bridge |
2.3 (3.6) |
4.6 (4.9) |
|
7.1 (8.6) |
11.8 (10.4) |
|
17.2 (18.6) |
19.8 (19.1) |
Shell Point |
27.3 (26.6) |
29.1 (28.8) |
Salinity declined in the
upper estuary over the past week. Conditions
in the upper estuary east of
Fish and Wildlife
Research Institute (FWRI) reports that water samples
collected alongshore between Pinellas and Monroe counties contained no K. brevis. Monitoring data collected by the River,
Estuary and Coastal Observing Network (RECON) of Sanibel-Captiva
Conservation Foundation (SCCF) indicated that over the last week Chlorophyll
concentrations ranged between 4 and 13 µg/L at
Water Conservation
Areas
Recession rates were
generally good for wading birds over the past week (although only fair in 3B). Depths are still a little high for optimal
foraging in most except for Everglades National Park (ENP) and 2A, but the high
water levels and good recession rates are just what are needed at this time of year.
These good foraging
conditions are reflected in the early nesting of fairly large numbers of storks
in ENP this year.
Average weekly basin stage
declines were:
Stage Change: WCA-1: - 0.10 foot WCA-3A: -
0.09 foot
WCA-2A: - 0.08 foot WCA-3B: - 0.05 foot
WCA-2B: -
0.18 foot NESRS: - 0.10 foot
Depths at gauges
range from 0.32 foot in WCA-2A to 3.37 foot in WCA-2B, but most gauges report
depths of one foot to about one and a half feet.
Continuing recent
trends, WCAs 1 and 3 remain slightly below the
Regulation Schedule, while WCA-2 marsh is above regulation.
Stages continued to decline
in ENP last week. Water levels in Shark River Slough and at the
Salinity was stable or
increased slightly in
Water Supply
Groundwater levels across the
District continue to decline. Many wells
in the
Water supply risk indicators
are in the “low” risk category including the projected LOK Stage, the Water
Conservation Areas 1 and 3A, and LEC Service Areas 1, 2, and 3 (no
restrictions).
The CPC Precipitation
Outlook, the LOK Seasonal Net Inflow Forecast, the LOK Multi-Seasonal Net
Inflow Forecast, and the Palmer Index for LOK Tributary Conditions continue in
the “medium” risk category. Water
Conservation Area 2A has moved into the “high” risk category due to station
2-17 dropping below an elevation of 11.5 feet.
LORS2008 (
Stages in
On December 15, 2008, USACE discontinued
base flows to the St. Lucie Estuary and increased flows to the Caloosahatchee
Estuary to 650 cfs.
Monday the USACE completed a seven day pulse release to the Caloosahatchee
Estuary that averaged 650 cfs over the seven day
period. The District recommends that the
USACE initiate another seven day 650 pulse release to the Caloosahatchee
Estuary Wednesday.
CC: George Horne