WCA - Everglades Conditions Update
(Feb. 19,
2008)
Rainfall:
Rainfall
was heavy over the Greater Everglades , especially in the north (see Raindar.gif). WCA-1 rainfall for the week was
4.3”; WCA2 was 4.0”; WCA-3A was 3.7” and the ENP received the least amount of
rain, but still greater than ET, at 1.7”.
Water Conservation Areas:
POOR
dry-season recession rates dominate the entire region (see WCA_stages.xls). Reversals dominate
everywhere due to the heavy rain. Maximum increase in stage was 0.43 ft at
gauge 63 (NE WCA-3A). Minimum stage increase was 0.09 ft at Gauge 76 (northern
WCA-3B). Despite the reversals, the water depth criteria for water bird
foraging remained much the same as last week. Stages in WCA-1 are now above
Regulation, WCA-2A marsh remains above regulation (note: canal levels dropped
sharply due the opening of the S-11’s), and WCA-3 stages are now only slightly
below regulation. Stages are now greater than they were a month ago (see WCA_reg_stages.doc).
Everglades National
Park:
ENP wetland
water levels increased in response to this precipitation. Shark River
Sl. (station P33) and southern Taylor Sl. (at Craighead Pond) both posted water
levels up by approx 1” from last week’s readings. The most significant
rise was observed at the Taylor Sl. Bridge, where it increased by nearly 14” over the
7 d period (see Stages_pdf). Stage
increased by a more modest amount (0.4”) in the ENP panhandle (station EVER6)
where less rain was recorded.
Despite the
rain, salinity concentrations remained generally stable in Florida Bay.
Salinity held in the mid-upper 20s at Trout Ck. At the mouth of Taylor River
salinity read just above 20 psu for another week. Salinity concentrations
in the Taylor ponds were in the teens for much of the week before dropping into
single digits over the weekend; the 30d moving average concentration at Argyle
Hendry (station TR, used to track FL Bay MFL criterion) was at 7.2 psu as of
Sunday, 2/17. Salinity concentrations were in the low-20s last week at
Little Madeira Bay and in the north-central Bay areas of McCormick Ck.& Terrapin
Bay. Whipray Basin remained just over 33 psu as of
Sunday, 2/17. As a whole these salinity concentrations are still near
seasonal norms. The exception to this trend is out west, in the SRS
outflow at Tarpon
Bay, where salinity
remains above its seasonal average, measuring near 15 psu as of Sunday 2/17.
Wildlife:
Nothing new
to report on the Spoonbills. Two weeks ago Everglades
staff flew over the LNWR and saw large numbers of mixed flocks with 100-500
individuals; roughly estimated to be 10,000 birds in total (predominantly WHIB
and GREG). All were located at the drying front in the northern portion of the
Refuge, NW of New Colony 4. These flocks have now dispersed due to the heavy
rains.
Back to Lake Okeechobee Operations
Main Page
Back to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers WSE Homepage