WCA - Everglades Conditions Update

(April 1, 2008)

 

Rainfall:

Deficit rainfall occurred in WCA-1 (received 0.03”), WCA-2A (received 0.17”), WCA-3A (received 0.03”), WCA-3B (received 0.55”), and ENP (received 0.22”). The rain for the week tended to hug the eastern boundary of the Everglades (see Raindar.gif). Even though this rainfall was not adequate to compensate for the ET of 1.41 inches (see SRS.pdf), water depths did not characteristically decrease everywhere. This was due to water management and the surplus rains of two weeks ago.  

 

Water Conservation Areas:

Recession rates were either too slight or non-existent in WCA-2B, 3A, and 3B as a result of the rains of two weeks ago and from S-10 and S-11 openings (see WCA_stages.xls). , Only WCA-1 and 2A had recession rates in support of foraging. Unfortunately the depths throughout the Greater Everglades do not yet support foraging. Depths greater than one foot are inhospitable for wading bird foraging. However, it is still early in the nesting season for ibis and it is hoped that these poor hydrologic conditions will have a minimum impact on this specis. Stages in WCA-1 have declined and are at Regulation, WCA-2A marsh remains well above regulation (note: canal levels continue to drop due the opening of the S-11’s), and WCA-3A stages are within zone E1 of the regulation schedule (see WCA_reg_stages.doc), for protection of the Cape Sable Seaside Sparrow.

 

Everglades National Park:

ENP and FL Bay experienced patchy rainfall last week, with many areas receiving no rain. Despite rain in SRS, the ENP wetland water levels were down by approx. 1” for the week in both northern areas (SRS at P33) and southern areas (Craighead Pond).  After last week’s dramatic water level increase at Taylor Sl. Bridge (up by nearly 11” from the previous week’s total), last week brought a 2.4” recession to this part of the system (an area that regularly experiences wide fluctuations in water levels from rain, inflows, etc., esp. when the water level is below ground surface). 

 

Salinity concentrations remained fairly stable or increased (see salinity.pdf).  By the end of the week salinity had crept just above 30 psu at Trout Ck. and into the mid-20s at the mouth of Taylor River.  As of Sunday, 3/30, the 30d moving average concentration at Taylor River (used for tracking the FL Bay MFL criterion) was at 9.5 psu (up from 6.9 psu last week), and the highest concentration seen yet this dry season.  Salinity in Whipray remained in the upper-30s to near 40 psu for much of the week. These regional salinity concentrations are near seasonal norms.  The exception to this near-normal trend is out west, in areas downstream of Shark River Slough: though recent rainfall allowed salinity to drop a bit in Tarpon Bay, the daily mean measurement of 17 psu, is still well above normal and closer to concentrations experienced at the height of the dry season (in May) in this area. 

 

Wildlife:

There has been no change; Ibis activity is minimum (however, they still have time to nest). Woodstorks will probably not nest this year.  Audubon is reporting a second nesting attempt by spoonbills at Deer Key (in the eastern Bay).

 

 

 


 

Back to Lake Okeechobee Operations Main Page

Back to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers WSE Homepage