WCA - Everglades Conditions Update

(March 25, 2008)

 

Rainfall:

With an average ET for the Greater Everglades of 1.4 inches (see SRS.pdf), the rainfall was not adequate to prevent deficits everywhere. Rainfall was heaviest over the northern sections of the Greater Everglades (see Raindar.gif). Surplus rain was delivered to WCA-1 (received 2.5”) WCA-2A (received 2.7”), and WCA-3B (received 1.92”). Deficit rainfall occurred in in WCA-3A (received 1.32”) and ENP (received 1.07”).

 

Water Conservation Areas:

Surplus rain caused reversals and water depths to increase almost everywhere  (see WCA_stages.xls), but especially in WCA-2A and WCA-3B. The increasing depths have made large areas inhospitable for wading bird foraging. 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 are above Regulation, WCA-2A marsh remains well above regulation (note: canal levels dropped sharply 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 wetland water levels displayed mixed trends last week in response to the patchy nature of the weekend rain event.  Water levels increased at the 2 slough stations: up by 1.3” at P33 (Shark River Sl.) & by 10.7” at Taylor Sl. Bridge (not a typo – this part of the system regularly experiences wide fluctuations in water levels from rain, inflows, etc., esp. when the water level is below ground surface).  To the south of these areas, though, water level barely increased in the ENP panhandle (stations EVER6, only up by 0.1’”), & actually declined for the week at Craighead Pond (down by 0.6”).

 

Salinity concentrations are increasing slightly across the coastal zone and Florida Bay (see salinity.pdf).  Salinity remained in the upper-20s to near 30 psu at Trout Ck.  Salinity concentrations in the Taylor ponds increased up to 20 psu in Pond 5 and 17 psu at Argyle Hendry (station TR). The 30d moving average concentration at TR has increased by 2.4 psu to 6.9 psu, and is normal for this time of year. Salinity in the central Bay, at Whipray Basin, has climbed in recent weeks, holding just below 40 psu (data were only avail. through Thursday 3/20, so it has possibly declined a bit in response to Saturday’s rain event).  As a whole 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 where salinity measured just over 19 psu in Tarpon Bay, a salinity more typically found in May) .

 

Wildlife:

There has been no change; Ibis activity is minimum (however, they still have time to nest). Woodstorks will probably not nest this year.  Nothing new to report on the Spoonbills, other than, continued highly reduced nesting activity).

 

 


 

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