Kissimmee Watershed Environmental Conditions – 3/11/08

 

·        Over the last seven days, the upper Kissimmee Basin received approximately 2.52 inches of rainfall to raise the 30-day total to 3.74 inches (130% of average) and the lower basin received 2.48 inches to raise the 30-day total to 4.50 inches (180% of average) (Daily Rainfall Report 3/10/08).

·        Water levels in the upper basin lakes are at or below their regulation schedules. 

·        The discharge from Lake Kissimmee (S-65) has been increased to approximately 700 cfs to the Kissimmee River to avoid an increase in lake stage during the nesting season.  Releases of 1200 cfs are being made from Lake Toho (S-61) and of 600 cfs from East Lake Toho to allow a more gradual water level recession during the snail kite nesting season.  Last week releases began from Lakes Hart and Mary Jane and from Lakes Myrtle, Preston and Joel because rainfall was causing water levels to rise to the regulation schedule.  No other releases are being made in the upper basin.

·        In the upper basin, snail kites continue to nest on East Lake Toho and Lake Toho

·        A whooping crane continues to nest on Lake Kissimmee.

·        Flow has been reestablished to the Kissimmee River for 230 days (S-65 re-opened on 07/18/07). 

·        Dissolved oxygen concentrations in the river channel of the Kissimmee River ranged from 5.33 mg/L to 8.06 mg/L with an average of 7.0 mg/L.

 

A recommendation was made last week to hold the water level in Lake Kissimmee at the current elevation to avoid an increase (reversal), which could impact on nesting by the endangered snail kite and on the reproduction of their primary food source the Florida apple snail.  Last week’s recommendation was followed up this morning with a recommendation to begin lowering the water level of Lake Kissimmee to the same low stage of 49 ft by June 1 as the regulation schedule.  Starting the recession earlier will lower the water levels more gradually, which should benefit the reproduction of snail kites and apple snails.

 


 

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