WCA -
Rainfall:
Rainfall was
negligible again in the Greater Everglades (see Raindar
image and below). Basin totals last week ranged up to 0.04” (in WCA-3B):
Rain:
WCA-1: 0.00
in
WCA-3A: <0.01 in
WCA-2A: 0.00
in
WCA-3B: 0.04 in
WCA-2B: 0.00 in
ENP:
0.01 in
Water
Conservation Areas:
Regional pan
evaporation of 1.93” (see srs pdf)
drove continuing large stage decreases throughout the Greater Everglades.
Water levels are falling at rates
considered Fair or Good throughout the WCAs (see WCA Stages spreadsheet), but are particularly
high in WCA-2A and Northeast Shark River Slough, -0.24 and -0.31 ft,
respectively:
Stage Change:
WCA-1: -0.16 ft
WCA-3A: - 0.19 ft
WCA-2A: -0.24 ft
WCA-3B: - 0.19 ft
WCA-2B: -0.19 ft
NESRS: - 0.31 ft
All WCAs are far below their regulation schedules. WCA-1
is about -0.5 ft below, WCA-2A canal stage (used from February to May) has
fallen again to about -0.9 ft below, and the WCA-3A marsh is about -0.6 ft
below the bottom of Zone E1 (see Reg schedule).
Water depths are largely
below ground in much of the Greater Everglades (see attached map). Except
for coastal areas,
Most of the Greater
Everglades have moved into the Moderate muck fire risk category (see muck fire
risk map) except for the wetter areas described above and along the coastal
regions of ENP. The map shows a high risk of muck fires in far
northern WCA-3A, portions of WCA-2A, along
Wading bird feeding
conditions remain surprisingly good in most of WCA-1 and middle WCA-3A and -3B
(see Recession Rates map). The southwestern
coastal areas of ENP are also showing good recession rates and depths for
wading bird feeding, an improvement over last week.
No appreciable rain fell
across ENP or
Stages (see Stages pdf) continued to drop last week. Water level in
Shark River Slough has dropped by 4.6” since 3/29 (not reported 4/5), and water
level at the
Salinity (see Salinity pdf) remained steady or increased slightly in
The
Please contact Kevin Cunniff (kcunniff@sfwmd.gov) or Robin Bennett (rbennet@sfwmd.gov)
for questions about the ENP/Florida Bay report.
Fires:
For another week, no fires
were reported by FIRMS (the Fire Information for Resource Management System) in
the WCAs or the Park for the week.
Wildlife:
Water Conservation Areas:
Large mixed flocks were observed feeding in eastern WCA 1 in close proximity to New Colony 4. Conditions remain ideal for prey concentration, promoting large foraging flocks in these areas (see map and photo). The majority of eggs at New Colony 4 have hatched and many chicks (mostly White Ibises and some Great Egrets) were observed crawling through the tree canopy.
Please contact James Beerens (jbeerens@sfwmd.gov) with questions.
Sixteen breeding pairs of
roseate spoonbills have attempted second nests, 5 in the northwest Bay and 11
in the south and central Bay. These areas are not affected by water
management, and the south and central Bay colonies do not forage on the
mainland. Overall these are low nest numbers, but first nest efforts
earlier this season were also much lower than usually seen across the
Bay. As earlier reported, overall nest numbers were low, but success
rates (chicks fledged per nest) were good. Many of the foraging areas in
the southeast
Northwestern Bay:
Palm - 5
First Mate - 5
Calusa - 4
Southeastern Bay:
Lil' Betsy - 1
Southwestern Bay:
South Twin – 1
Please contact Robin Bennett
(rbennet@sfwmd.gov)
for questions about the spoonbill nesting report.
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