Kissimmee Watershed Environmental Conditions – 07/08/08:

·        Over the last seven days, the upper Kissimmee Basin received 0.92 inches of rainfall to bring the 30 day total to 7.68 inches (106% of average), and the lower basin received 3.20 inches to bring the 30 day total to 10.34 inches (151% of average) (Daily Rainfall Report 7/08/08).

·        Decreased rainfall over the upper basin relative to the previous two weeks slowed or ended the rise in water levels that had been occurring in most of the lakes.  Releases were made temporally at S-62 (Lakes Hart and Mary Jane), S-59 (East Lake Toho), and S-61 (Lake Toho) to slow the rate of rise as water level approached the regulation schedule.  The water released from these lakes was held in Lake Kissimmee, where it had little impact on the water level.  All lakes remain below regulation schedule.   

·        In the upper basin, snail kites continue to nest on East Lake Toho, Lake Toho, and Lake Kissimmee.  

·        Flow has been reestablished to the Kissimmee River for 357 days (S-65 re-opened on 07/18/07).  Flow is approximately 200 cfs at S65.

·        River water levels within the Kissimmee River Restoration Project area have been rising and falling in response to rainfall events.  Last week’s rainfall caused water levels to increase by >1.5 feet in the upper reach of the restoration project.   

·        Dissolved oxygen concentrations in the river channel of the Kissimmee River temporally fell below thresholds of concern.  Concentrations ranged from 0.13 mg/L to 4.4 mg/L and averaged of 2.9 mg/L. 

 


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