WCA -
(April 29, 2008)
Rainfall:
Very little
rain fell last week across the
WCA-1:
0.03”
WCA-3A: 0.03”
WCA-2A:
0.02”
WCA-3B: 0.01”
WCA-2B:
0.08”
ENP:
0.01”
The mean 7
day evapotranspiration for the region was 1.58”; see
srs pdf.
Water Conservation Areas:
Recession
rates in the conservation areas improved somewhat last week with low rainfall,
high evapotranspiration and water management releases. However, recession
rates are highly variable across the region (see WCA_stages.xls),
best for wading birds in parts of WCA-1, 3A, and 3B. WCA-2 recession rates are poor or fair. Most of
the conservation area water depths remain well above the 1 ft maximum threshold
for wading bird foraging. Stages in WCA-1 have declined but are still above
Regulation Schedule (see WCA_reg_schedule.doc),
WCA-2A marsh remains more than 1’ above regulation, and WCA-3A stages continue
to decline.
Very little
rain fell across ENP and
Salinity is
rising across the Bay and mangrove transition zone, but concentrations are not
abnormally high (i.e., this is typically the time of year when salinity
concentrations can rise rapidly with conditions of no or low rainfall or
incoming flow, and high evaporation). Nearshore areas of Trout Creek,
Wildlife:
Water
depths remain limiting to wading birds over much of the system, but have
improved slightly since last week with the high ET and low rainfall.
Recession rates have also improved a little since last week, so they may
stimulate some nesting in White Ibis. Last Friday’s survey was cancelled
so there is no update on specific nesting activities.
While
current high stages may not be conducive to successful nesting, they may be
necessary for populations of fish, crustaceans and apple snails to recover from
recent drought conditions.
Fires
Multiple
fires were reported last week (NASA Fire Information for Resource Management
System) on Wednesday in central WCA-3 and on Friday in southern WCA-1 (see
attached Fire.doc)
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