WCA -
(Mar. 4,
2008)
Rainfall:
Similar
to last week, rainfall over the Greater Everglades was relatively light again,
particularly in the southern conservation areas (see Raindar.gif). Rainfall declined
regularly from WCA-1 with 0.62”, WCA-2A 0.45”, WCA-2B 0.20”, WCA-3A 0.15”, and
WCA-3B with 0.06”. ENP received more rainfall at 0.22” for the
week. ET for the week was 1.15”, exceeding rainfall and producing
declining water levels overall in the Greater Everglades.
Water Conservation Areas:
Dry
season recession rates have returned to a typical pattern throughout the
Greater Everglades (see WCA_stages.xls).
Recession rates are GOOD throughout WCAs 1 and 2, ranging from -0.05”/week to
-0.16”/week. While recession rates in most of WCA-3A are still POOR, this
week’s values are much better than those from last week and are beginning to
decline. Water depths are still rather high for good wading bird foraging
in most of the conservation areas. Foraging conditions are GOOD to FAIR
locally only in WCA-2B, northern WCA-3A, and all of WCA-3B. Water
depths range from 0.15’ to 2.24’ at all reporting gauges.
Stages
(see WCA_reg_stages.doc) in
WCA-1 are about at regulation, the WCA-2A marsh has declined slightly from last
week but is still far above regulation, and WCA-3 stages are slightly under
regulation.
ENP
stations have not transmitted data since 2/28 (with latest data through 2/27),
so data are not current.
Rainfall
was patchy again last week across ENP and
Data are
insufficient to estimate weekly water level trends across ENP wetlands, with
Salinity
concentrations remained generally stable or declined slightly in
There is no
update on spoonbill nesting in FL Bay.
Wildlife:
The Friday
flight saw no change in foraging and nesting patterns from those of last
week. There are no birds in northern WCA 1 and 2A. The monthly flights of
the colonies begin today.
Back to Lake Okeechobee Operations
Main Page
Back to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers WSE Homepage