WCA - Everglades Conditions Update

(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-11’s), and WCA-3 stages are now only slightly below the E1 regulation schedule(see WCA_reg_stages.doc).

 

Everglades National Park:

Water levels across ENP wetlands continued to decline.  Stage was down by 0.6” in Shark River Sl. (station P33) last week.  At Taylor Sl. Bridge water level dropped by just over 3” in the past 7 d (not an uncharacteristic decline for this area).  To the south, water level declined by 0.8” in Craighead Pond and by 1.1” in the ENP panhandle (station EVER6). 

 

Salinity concentrations remained generally stable or increased slightly in Florida Bay last week. As a whole regional salinity concentrations are near seasonal norms. Salinity concentrations in the Taylor ponds remained in the low single digits for much of last week. The 30-day moving average concentration at Argyle Hendry was 5.5 psu and is not in violation of MFL’s. The most substantial change in salinity last week occurred in the north-central Bay areas of McCormick Ck. & Terrapin Bay where concentrations jumped from the teens into the mid-20s (McCormick Ck.) and even 30 psu (Terrapin Bay); due to strong winds pushing Bay water northward.  The exception to near-normal trend was out west, in areas downstream of Shark River Sl. where salinity rose to 20 psu in Tarpon Bay, a concentration that is above normal for even the latest parts of the dry season (May).

 

Wildlife:

Two weeks ago Everglades staff flew over the LNWR and saw large numbers of mixed flocks with 100-500 individuals; roughly estimated to be 10,000 birds in total (predominantly WHIB and GREG). All were located at the drying front in the northern portion of the Refuge, NW of New Colony 4. These flocks have now dispersed due to the heavy rains.

 

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.     Broad River headwaters colony: No nesting. Some ROSPs roosting in colony area (no egrets/ibis seen in area).

7.     Rodgers River - no birds

8.     Alligator Bay / west coast inland waterways - no nesting birds seen, scattered small feeding flocks

9.     Tamiami West/East - no birds

 

 


 

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