WCA -
(March 11,
2008)
Rainfall:
Rainfall
was relatively heavy over the northern sections of the Greater Everglades (see Raindar.gif). WCA-1 received some 2.74 and
WCA-2A received 2.99. Rainfall decreased to 1.47 in WCA-3A, was 0.86 in
WCA-3B, and was only 0.44 in the ENP. Since the estimated ET was 1.18, the
southern regions of the Greater Everglades had a deficit weekly water budget.
Water Conservation Areas:
Water
depths increased almost everywhere creating significant reversal (as much as
0.25 ft at gauge 62), as a result recession rates were designated as POOR (see WCA_stages.xls). At the same time,
water depths remain above one foot and above the optimum depths for wading bird
foraging. It is still early in the nesting season (see Nests.xls) and it is
hoped that these poor hydrologic conditions will have a minimum impact.
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-11s), and WCA-3
stages are now only slightly below the E1 regulation schedule(see WCA_reg_stages.doc).
Water
levels across ENP wetlands continued to decline. Stage was down by 0.6
in Shark River Sl. (station P33) last week. At
Salinity
concentrations remained generally stable or increased slightly in
Wildlife:
Two weeks
ago
Attached is
a Nests spreadsheet that indicates
three significant wading bird nesting trends in comparison to March 2006:
1. WCA-1 nests in 2008 are only
slightly less than 2006.
2. The Alley North Rookery in northern
WCA-3A had 10,000 nests in 2006 and today has only 300.
3. There are few woodstork nests at
this time.
Nothing new
to report on the Spoonbills. There are few nests.
ENP colony
update (not much activity):
1. Cuthbert island: ~25-30 GREGs
standing on/near nests and 3-5 incubating --no storks in the colony.
2. Frank Key: ~20 each of SNEGs
& GREGs --some appeared to be setting up nests, no incubating.
3. Paurotis Pond: ~60-70 WOSTs
with nest starts. Nests not whitewashed so hard to see. Some birds paired up on
them and all birds standing. Did not see any storks incubating. Also about 20
GREGs nesting --few incubating. Some ibis roosting in center island and lots of
fledged spoonbills at the back of the pond.
4. Rookery Branch headwaters colony:
~40 GREGs with nest starts. None incubating. No other birds seen in colony
area.
5. Otter Creek headwaters colony: ~10
GREGs & 5 WHIBs roosting only.
6.
7.
8.
9. Tamiami West/East - no birds
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