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 Lakes Hart and Mary Jane (S-62) began last week at about 100 cfs.  Releases from East Lake Tohopekaliga (S-59) increased from 160 cfs to 250 cfs. Releases from Lake Tohopekaliga (S-61) increased from 600 cfs to 800 cfs.  Releases from the Alligator Chain (S-60) began at 50 cfs.  Releases from Lake Kissimmee (S-65) were decreased from 1100 cfs to 700 cfs.    

·        The vegetation removal project on Lake Gentry ended last week.

·        Hydrilla treatment continues in Lake Cypress.  Treatment with a systemic herbicide began on April 7 during a period of no inflow from Lake Toho (S-61).  Since inflow has resumed, herbicide concentrations are being maintained in the desired range with an injector located in the inflow from Lake Toho.      

·        In the upper basin, snail kites continue to nest on East Lake Toho, Lake Toho, and Lake Kissimmee.  Nests on Lake Toho continue to represent a large fraction of the total number of snail kite nests in Florida

·        Flow has been reestablished to the Kissimmee River for 286 days (S-65 re-opened on 07/18/07).  Flow is approximately 700 cfs at S65, 600 cfs at S-65C, and 750 cfs at S-65E.

·        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 Kissimmee River ranged from 3.7 mg/L to 7.9 mg/L with an average of 5.8 mg/L, which is almost identical to last week. 

·        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. 

 


 

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