Kissimmee Watershed Environmental Conditions – 08/20/08:

o       Over the last seven days, the upper Kissimmee Basin received approximately 3 inches of rainfall and the lower basin received approximately 7 inches (Seven Day Raindar Estimate 8/13/08 – 8/20/08).

o       Water levels in all of the upper basin lakes are near or slightly above their regulation schedules.  Releases are being made from Lake Hart (155 cfs), East Lake Tohopekaliga (243 cfs), Lake Tohopekaliga (661 cfs), The Alligator Chain (198 cfs) and Lake Gentry (478 cfs).

o       Due to the heavy rainfall associated with tropical storm Fay, discharge from Lake Kissimmee has been increased to 3320 cfs and discharge at S65C is 3230 cfs

o       Water depths on the floodplain within the restoration project have increased over the last day or so and currently range from 1.5 - 4 feet.  The floodplain in the restored reach is completely inundated at this time.

o       From 8/5/08 to 8/12/08 dissolved oxygen concentrations in the Kissimmee River ranged from 1.0 mg/L to 4.8 mg/L and averaged 1.9 mg/L.  DO concentration increased from approximately 3 mg/L to 4.8 mg/L yesterday as Fay moved over the lower Kissimmee Basin.  The increase in DO concentration is likely due to reaeration from heavy rainfall and turbulent flow.  A similar phenomenon was observed during hurricanes Frances and Jeanne in 2004.

 


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