WCA - Everglades Conditions Update (August 14, 2007)

 

 

Rainfall:

Total precipitation (in inches) for the week, starting in the North, was WCA1=0.66; WCA2A=1.32; WCA2B=0.95; WCA3A=1.25; WCA3B=1.39; ENP=1.66 inches (see attached Raindar.gif).  Rainfall was patchy across ENP and FL Bay, with platform totals ranging from trace amounts (< 0.1”) to 2.8”.

 

Water Conservation Areas:

Rainfall amounts resulted in modest net increases in water depth for all regions with the exception of WCA-1 (-0.08’) (see attached WCA Stages.xls).  Marsh depths now range between 0.68 ft (6-3 gage) and 1.7 ft. (6-5 gage) (Note: Gage 99 is not considered a marsh gauge.), and continued increases are seen a good thing for the environment.  In terms of the Regulations Schedules; WCA-1 is below regulation, WCA-2A is above Regulation, and WCA-3A is below regulation (see WCA Regulation Stages.doc).

 

Everglades National Park:

Trends in water levels across the ENP wetlands have been mixed over recent weeks. Some areas, like in the southern Taylor Slough area of Craighead Pond (CP), have remained unusually stable for several weeks now.  In other extremities of the Park, such as in Shark River Slough (P33) & in the panhandle (EVER6), there has been a slow decline over recent weeks, the timing of which corresponds with local rainfall accumulation (or lack thereof).  Water level at Taylor Slough Bridge has displayed a more variable pattern of late (fluctuation that is typical of this station).  A weekly decline of > 6” is fairly significant even at Taylor Slough Bridge showing just how sensitive the Rocky Glades is to local rainfall patterns (this station received < 0.1” of rain last week, a week with very high temps & ET) (see Stages.pdf).  

 

Salinity continued to remain seasonably low & stable across FL Bay.  Trout Ck. salinity was somewhat flashy last week, generally holding in single digits with brief periods rising over 10 psu.  Salinity at the mouth of Taylor River was more variable, ranging between 2 – 15 psu throughout the week (seasonable concentrations).  Salinity concentrations in the Taylor River ponds remained very low for the 7 d period, close to 1 psu.  At the mouth of L. Madeira Bay salinity held near 20 psu for much of last week.  In the north-central Bay, McCormick Ck. salinity increased a bit from last week, remaining in the mid-20s for much of the week.  South of here, in Whipray Basin, salinity also started to climb a bit, likely a result of low local rainfall & high evaporation, but remaining near seasonable levels.  Salinity to the west in the Shark River Slough outflow of Tarpon Bay stayed low at near 2 psu for another week (see Salinity.pdf).

 


 

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