Estuarine Conditions as of July 28,
2008
St. Lucie Estuary
Current Conditions:
There were no releases through S-80 from C-44 over the past
week. An average discharge of 80 cfs through S-48 from C-23 and 234 cfs
through S-49 from C-24 occurred over the past week. The current weekly average
salinities (in bold) at the four monitoring sites in the St. Lucie are given
below in parts per thousand (ppt), along with the
previous week’s (in parenthesis).
|
Weekly Average Salinity (ppt) |
|
|
Sampling Site |
Surface |
Bottom |
Envelope |
|
7.22 (6.48)
|
8.08 (7.46) |
|
HR1 (N. Fork) |
5.31
(2.58) |
10.52 (9.51) |
|
|
9.70 (8.38) |
12.23
(11.40) |
8.0 – 25.0 |
A1A Bridge |
18.91
(16.95) |
25.61 (24.26) |
20.0 – 31.0 |
Compared with salinities of the previous week, average salinity in the estuary increased about 0.5 to 2.7 ppt. Three of four monitoring stations are reporting salinities within the preferred range. Salinity conditions in the estuary are considered to be fair to good, based on the salinity preference of the oyster, Crassostrea virginica, and location in the estuary (see attached).
Caloosahatchee Estuary
Current Conditions:
An average weekly discharge of 1342
cfs occurred at S-79. The concentration of
chlorides at the Olga Plant was 62 ppm yesterday, up
from 54 ppm in the beginning of this reporting
period. The current weekly average salinities (in bold) at the six
monitoring sites in the Caloosahatchee Estuary are given below in parts per
thousand (ppt), along with the previous week’s (in
parenthesis).
Based on the USGS flow meter located just below S77 water is
flowing back into the
S78 has remained closed with no discharge throughout the
month of July
|
Weekly Average Salinity (ppt) |
|
Sampling Site |
Surface |
Bottom |
|
0.29 (0.43)
|
0.29 (0.40) |
Rt. 31 Bridge |
NR
(NR) |
NR (NR) |
I-75 Bridge |
0.41 (0.85) |
0.41
(1.10) |
|
1.18 (3.15) |
1.28 (3.55) |
|
6.81 (10.06) |
8.62 (10.43) |
Shell Point |
20.22 (28.76) |
22.29
(29.47) |
Compared with salinities of the previous week, average
salinity decreased throughout the estuary due to local runoff. Average
salinities dropped between 0.11 ppt and 8.54 ppt depending on location and depth. The 30-day average
surface salinity is decreasing and stands at 8 ppt. Salinity conditions in the upper
estuary east of
Background concentrations of Karenia brevis, the
click on “Current Week”
click on “Technical Summary”
scroll to the bottom and click on “Coastal Ecosystems”
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