WCA -
(Feb. 26,
2008)
Rainfall:
Rainfall
over the Greater Everglades was relatively light, particularly in the south
(see Raindar.gif). WCA-1 was
0.56”, WCA-2A received 0.32”, WCA-2B had 0.4”, WCA-3A had 0.2”, while both
WCA-3B and ENP received far less rainfall at 0.04”. ET (1.08”) exceeded
rainfall, which is normal at this time of year.
Water Conservation Areas:
Dry
season recession rates were mixed in the Greater Everglades (see WCA_stages.xls). After last
week’s reversals, most of the recession rates returned to GOOD or FAIR,
although rapid reversals of 0.31’ in WCA-2A and 0.19’ at Stage 63 in northern
WCA-3A represent POOR dry season events. After the previous week’s heavy
rainfalls, water depths in most of the conservation areas rose to levels too
deep for foraging (deeper than 1’), particularly in WCA-1, 2, and southern
WCA-3A (with POOR depth ratings). Water depths in northern WCA-3A and southern
WCA-3B are the exceptions, with a rating of GOOD (0.1’-0.8’). Water
depths range from 0.4’ to 2.0’ at all reporting gauges. Stages in WCA-1
and WCA-3 are about at regulation, while the WCA-2A marsh has risen higher
above regulation than it was last week (see WCA_reg_stages.doc).
Rainfall
was patchy last week across ENP and
Last week’s
water level trends for ENP wetlands were mixed (see ENP_Stages.pdf). Shark River Slough
(station P33) and southern Taylor Slough (at Craighead Pond) water levels
declined by 0.8” and 2”, respectively, for the week. Water depths rose
nearly 0.5” in the ENP panhandle (station EVER6). Stages rose through the
early part of last week at Craighead Pond, ending up at just 0.1” weekly
increase.
Salinity
concentrations (see ENP Salinity.pdf)
remained generally stable again in Florida Bay last week. Salinity remained in
the mid- to upper 20s at Trout Creek. At the mouth of
There is no
update on spoonbill nesting in
Wildlife:
The weekly
Friday morning flight over the National Wildlife Refuge and WCA-2A indicated
little avian activity this week. Water levels have increased dramatically
in northern 2A just south of the S-10s and for the first time this year there
were very few birds feeding in the CHIP plots where depths are now at least 50
cm. Water depths were shallower to the south and west. Some White Ibis,
Great Egrets and Roseate Spoonbills were feeding in central 2A but no large
flocks were observed.
In the
Refuge, foraging was restricted to isolated Great Egrets. No Ibises were
observed. About 20 Great Egrets are beginning to nest at New Colony 4.
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