WCA - Everglades
Conditions Update (August 28, 2007)
Rainfall:
Rainfall varied markedly throughout the Everglades last week (see Raindar.gif), ranging from 0.5 in ENP
to 1.2 in WCA-1. WCA-2A
had 1.2 while WCA-2B had only 0.7; WCA-3A received 1.2 while WCA-3B
received half that. Rainfall was also patchy but generally low last week
across Everglades National Park (ENP) and Florida Bay, with most wetland and Bay stations
receiving under 1 for the week. Accumulations
ranged from 0.1 0.8, with higher totals along the southwest coast of
approximately 1.5.
Water Conservation Areas:
The conservation area gauges reported rising water
stages in the northern conservation areas but falling in the more southerly
ends of WCA-3 and in ENP
(see WCA
stages spreadsheet). Everglades
ecosystems are habituated to rising water levels in the wet season. At
this time of year, falling stages in the Everglades
equate to Poor conditions. Like last week (see WCA
regulation stages), stages in WCA-1 are
below regulation but still in Zone A2, stages in WCA-2
are above regulation, and stages in WCA-3 are below
regulation. Water depths remain between 1-1.5 feet in the conservation
areas, but were lower (below 0.7 foot) in the northern ENP
area.
A large fire (Macks Fish Camp South fire) of 23,096
acres burned in WCA-3B (see attached photos and map, 1
2
3
4
5),
merging with another 3,500 acre fire from the week before. It was
triggered by a lightning strike on Aug. 17 and was declared under control
August 26. Predicted rainfall from the tropical wave failed to
materialize and so the fire continued unchecked.
Everglades National Park:
Water levels decreased at all ENP
platforms last week (see Stages pdf),
likely in part to the light rainfall pattern and high evapotranspiration
rates. At Taylor Slough
Bridge water level
plunged by nearly 5.5 to reach just below ground surface. In the
panhandle region (EVER 6), water level declined by 2. Stage
at Craighead Pond (CP) and to the north in Shark River Slough (P33) dropped by
approximately 1 over the 7 day period.
Salinity showed mixed trends across Florida Bay
last week (see Salinity pdf) but remains
seasonably low. Salinity at Trout Creek was flashy throughout the week,
measuring between 4 - 15 psu. The platform at
the mouth of Little Madeira Bay saw salinity holding below 20 psu for another week. Salinity in the Taylor River
ponds remained very low all week (~ 1 psu at Pond 5
and Argyle Hendry). Salinity readings in the north-central Bay areas of Terrapin Bay and McCormick Creek remained in the
mid to low 20s last week. In the central Bay, Whipray Basin salinity remained near 40 psu for another week. To the north and west, Tarpon Bay
(SRS outflow) salinity was low, holding below 2 psu
for another week.
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