Kissimmee Watershed
Environmental Conditions – 08/26/08:
·
Over the last
seven days, the Upper
Kissimmee Basin
received 7.46 inches of rainfall, bringing this month’s total rainfall to
9.46 inches (177% of normal). The Lower Basin received 9.04 inches to
bring this month’s total to an astounding 11.48 inches (239% of
normal) (Daily Rainfall Report 08/24/08).
·
Water levels in
all of the upper basin lakes are above their regulation schedules except for Lake Gentry.
Releases are being made from Lake
Hart (500 cfs), East Lake Tohopekaliga (709 cfs), Lake
Tohopekaliga
(2,044 cfs), The Alligator Chain (319 cfs) and Lake Gentry
(319 cfs).
·
According to the Florida Fish and Wildlife Cooperative
Research Unit at The University of Florida, all known snail kite nesting in the
Kissimmee Basin has ended. This includes
young birds being fed near nesting sites.
·
Due to the heavy
rainfall associated with Tropical Storm Fay, discharge from Lake Kissimmee
has been increased to approximately 7,000 cfs. Discharge at S65C is 11,000
cfs.
·
Water depths on
the floodplain within the restoration project currently range from 2.5 –
6.8 feet. The floodplain in the restored reach is completely inundated at
this time.
·
From 08/19/08 to
08/26/08 dissolved oxygen concentrations in the Kissimmee
River ranged from 4.8 mg/L to 0.36 mg/L and averaged 1.7
mg/L. The highest DO readings occurred during and shortly after Tropical
Storm Fay’s passage over the Kissimmee
Basin. The increase
in DO concentration is likely due to reaeration from
heavy rainfall and high winds. As flows through the restoration project
increased over the past week, DO concentrations in the river channel decreased
steadily and are currently below the 2 mg/L level of concern for fish.
However, the floodplain in the restoration area is completely inundated and
there are likely areas on the floodplain with higher DO concentrations where
fish can take refuge. A similar phenomenon was observed during and after
hurricanes Frances and Jeanne in 2004.
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