Kissimmee Watershed Environmental
Conditions – 05/06/08
·
Over
the last seven days, the upper Kissimmee Basin received 0.10 inches of rainfall
to bring the 30 day total to 2.81 inches (113% of average), and the lower basin
received 0.02 inches to bring the 30 day total to 2.74 inches (115% of average)
(Daily Rainfall Report 5/5/08).
·
During
the last week, releases were either increased or initiated for several of the
upper basin lakes. Releases from
·
The
vegetation removal project on
·
Hydrilla treatment continues in
·
In the upper
basin, snail kites continue to nest on East Lake Toho,
·
Flow
has been reestablished to the
·
With
the decreased inflow from the upper basin, water levels continue to decline
across the Kissimmee River Restoration Project. At PC62,
near the upstream end of the Phase I area, water level peaked at 39.9 feet on
April 10 and has fallen approximately 4 feet. Currently, the water
surface elevation decreases by 2 feet from the upstream end to the downstream
end of the restoration project.
·
Dissolved oxygen
concentrations in the river channel of the
·
A recommendation
was made on Friday (May 2, 2008) to begin lowering the water levels (headwater
stage) at S-65C from the current elevation of 35 ft to 33 ft by June 1 for
environmental purposes. Healthy wetland plant communities require
fluctuating water levels and periodic drying. Since Phase I of the
Kissimmee River Restoration Project was completed in 2001, water levels have
been varied to improve conditions at the lower end of Pool C that ordinarily would
experience stabilized water levels. The water levels have not decreased
to 33 feet since 2003, and there are indications of problems, especially with
mat-forming species. Current conditions of moderate inflow at S-65 and
low rainfall will favor lowering water levels.