Estuarine Conditions as of August 26, 2008
St. Lucie Estuary
Current Conditions:
During the last week, an average discharge of 915 cfs occurred at S-80 from C-44. Yesterday’s discharge was 1,451 cfs. An average discharge of about 3,000 cfs occurred last week through S-49 from C-24. 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) and the preferred range (envelope) at the two downstream sensors.
|
Weekly Average Salinity (ppt) |
|
|
Sampling Site |
Surface |
Bottom |
Envelope |
|
1.43 (8.07) |
1.44 (9.56) |
|
HR1 (N. Fork) |
0.92 (7.71) |
1.20 (12.81) |
|
|
1.89 (11.13) |
1.96 (13.80) |
8.0 – 25.0 |
A1A Bridge |
3.82 (19.69) |
4.48 (24.63) |
20.0 – 31.0 |
Compared with salinities of the previous week, average salinity in the estuary decreased about 8.12 to 20.15 ppt. All four monitoring stations are reporting salinities below the preferred range. Salinity conditions in the estuary are considered to be poor 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 14,457 cfs occurred at S-79. Yesterday’s discharge was 13,556 cfs. The concentration of chlorides at the Olga Plant was 22 ppm yesterday, down from 50 ppm at the beginning of this reporting period.
Based on the USGS flow meter located just below S-77 there was an average weekly discharge of 433 cfs. Prior to Tropical Storm Fay, S-78 remained closed with no discharge since June 30th. S-78 opened on Aug. 18th with an average discharge during the last week of about 5,920 cfs. Yesterday’s discharge was 4,987 cfs
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).
|
Weekly Average Salinity (ppt) |
|
Sampling Site |
Surface |
Bottom |
|
0.16 (0.25) |
0.15 (0.25) |
Rt. 31 Bridge |
0.16 (0.26) |
NR (NR) |
I-75 Bridge |
0.19 (0.33) |
0.18 (0.30) |
|
0.28 (0.87) |
0.28 (1.08) |
|
NR (NR) |
NR (NR) |
Shell Point |
5.29 (22.17) |
7.35 (23.57) |
In the estuary, freshwater
conditions extend from S-79 downstream to Shell Point. Salinity
conditions in the upper estuary east of
Salinity at
No Karenia brevis,
the
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