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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