WCA - Everglades Conditions Update (July 10, 2007)

 

 

Rainfall:

Surplus precipitation fell throughout the Everglades because evaporation for the week was 1.4 inches (see srs.pdf) while rainfall ranged from a low of 1.6 inches in WCA-1 to a high of 4.4 inches in WCA-2B (see attached Raindar).

 

Water Conservation Areas:

On average, the stage increased by 0.05 ft more than last week for most of the Everglades. Stage increases ranged from 0.09 ft (WCA-3A) to 0.28 ft in WCA-2A (see spreadsheet). WCA-2B continues to be something of an enigma. Last week the 99-gage decreased while the marsh increased. This week, the 99-gage in WCA-2B increased by an incredible 2.79 ft while the marsh hardly increased. What is going on here?

 

Sections of WCA-3A continue to experience declining water levels, but not as bad as last week. The northeastern section of 3A has been below ground for the last three weeks.  

 

WCA-1 and 3 are approaching Regulation and WCA-2A is above Regulation (see .doc).

 

Everglades National Park:

Northwestern & southeastern areas of ENP receiving more rainfall than other areas.  (see Raindar). Unfortunately, the dataset for the ENP wetland stations was incomplete for the week (due to some issues w/ lightening tripping up communication from the platforms).  A summary through Friday, 7/6, indicates that water levels were generally up 0.5” to 1.3”. Only Taylor Slough Bridge saw a decline in water level of nearly 1” for the period Mon – Fri. of last week.  The panhandle water levels (measured @ EVER6) increased by nearly 0.5” : SRS at P33 water level jumped by 1.3” over the 5 d period. In general, and despite the drought, stages are higher in the ENP than they were this time last year (see Stages.pdf).

Salinity continued to drop or remain low across FL Bay last week.  Salinity at Trout Ck. dropped to below 5 psu last week.  Salinity in the TR ponds was very low all week (~ 3 psu @ Pond 5 & nearly fresh up at Argyle Hendry).  The 30 d moving average concentration at TR continues to decline, remaining well below the 30 psu point (at 2.7 psu as of Sunday, 7/8).   In the central Bay, Whipray Basin salinity held near 35 psu for yet another week.   To the north and west, Tarpon Bay (SRS outflow) salinity remained low at near 2 psu as of Sunday, 7/8. 

Special Note:

It is not for the lack of pecuniary (Word of the Week) rewards that the Word for the Week is taking a holiday, rather it is to prevent tedium and possible aspersions (another Word of the Week) as to its nature and impetus (yet another Word of the Week). The Word of the Week is expected to return after peak hurricane season.

 

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