WCA - Everglades Conditions Update (September 11, 2007)

Rainfall:

Most of the rain fell over the Park this past week (see Raindar.gif) and as a result the Park was the only region of the Greater Everglades where rainfall (Mean = 2.4”) was greater than evaporation (7-day Total = 1.7” see attached srs.pdf). The rest of the region saw about 1.0 inch of rain.

Water Conservation Areas:

On average, water levels are where they were last week (see WCA stages spreadsheet). WCA-3A and 3B continue to have POOR inundation rates. A maximum stage decrease of -0.10 ft for the Everglades occurred in northern WCA-3A (Gage 62). Depths are below 1 ft for much of WCA-3 and NE Shark River Slough. Stages in WCA-1 are below regulation but still in Zone A2. Stages in WCA-2 and stages in WCA-3 are below regulation (see WCA regulation stages).

 

 

Everglades National Park:

Rainfall was heavier last week than we have seen of late across ENP and FL Bay. Precip totals at wetland & marine platforms ranged from 0.8 – 3.7” over the 7 d period. As a result, Taylor Slough Bridge saw increasing water levels (up by nearly 4” for the 7 d period).  In the panhandle region (EVER 6) & to the west at Craighead Pond (CP), water levels were up by just over 3” as of Sunday (9/9).  Rainfall came at a good time to halt recent unseasonable water level recessions in these wetland areas. 

 

Salinity showed mixed trends across FL Bay last week.  Salinity at Trout Ck. was flashy again last week, ranging from 10 – 25 psu.  Salinity in the Taylor ponds remained very low for much of the week (~ 1 psu at Argyle Hendry, TR), with the exception of a flow reversal that pushed Bay water up Taylor River and increased salinity to 10 – 15 psu in the latter part of the week at Pond 5 (just downstream from station TR).  Salinity readings in the north-central Bay areas of Terrapin Bay and McCormick Creek have continued to increase in recent weeks.  This week’s strong southerly winds pushed Bay water into shallow Terrapin Bay and drove salinity up into the mid-30s by the weekend.  In the central Bay, Whipray Basin salinity continued a slow tick upwards, increasing to 41 psu by the weekend.  To the north and west, Tarpon Bay (SRS outflow) salinity remained low, holding near 2 psu for another week.

 

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