WCA - Everglades Conditions Update (Oct. 2, 2007)

 

Rainfall:

Substantial rainfall occurred throughout the Greater Everglades, especially along its eastern borders (see Raindar.gif). Rainfall totals again ranged from a high of 4 inches in NE Shark River Slough, to a low total of 2.2 inches for the Lox. National Wildlife refuge. All rainfall was surplus because the total weekly evaporation estimate was only 1.27 inches (see attached srs.pdf).

 

Water Conservation Areas:

Water levels have increased significantly for a second week, and all gauges recorded a GOOD wet season inundation (i.e., re-hydration) rate (see stages.xls). A maximum inundation of 0.62 ft per week was recorded in WCA-2A. The lowest inundation (0.07 ft per week) was recorded at gauge 62 (NW WCA-3A). Inundation rates were directly related to raionfall patterns (see raindar). As one would expect, water levels are approaching more realistic wet season values of 2 ft to 3 ft. However, there are still many regions of the Everglades below average. Stages in WCA-1 are approaching regulation but are still in Zone A2. Stages in WCA-2A are now well above regulation and stages in WCA-3 are still below regulation (see reg stages.doc).

 

 

Everglades National Park:

Wetland stations received between 1.1 – 5.1” of rain.  The weekly RAINDAR ENP spatially averaged basin-wide accumulation was just over 4” last week, though even more impressive was the total of 10.5” for the C-111 basin just to east (see attached .gif). ENP wetland water levels increased as a result of this rainfall and flow from upstream.  Stations in the south all saw impressive increases in stage last week: 7.2” at Taylor Sl. Bridge, 5.3” in the ENP panhandle (EVER6), & 4.3” at Craighead Pond.  Shark River Slough (P33), which received less rain, saw only a slight increase in water level (0.4”) for the 7 d period.  Also, as a result of this rain, the seven gates on the S-197 were opened at noon on Oct 1 send freshwater to Barnes Sound. Four of these gates are expected to be closed by 5 pm Oct 2.

 

Salinity showed mixed trends across FL Bay last week in conjunction with the spatial distribution of rainfall.  Strong discharge moving out of the creeks toward Florida Bay allowed salinity to drop into single digits at both Trout Ck. & Taylor River mouth platforms by the weekend.  Salinity in the TR ponds remained at or below 1 psu all week.  Salinity concentrations in the central Bay saw the most substantial weekly change: areas of McCormick Ck. and Terrapin Bay where salinity was just over 30 psu early last week, fell into the teens by the weekend.  Whipray Basin salinity dropped from 42 psu to 37 psu..  As an interesting contrast, Tarpon Bay (SRS outflow), where rainfall was much lighter, salinity increased from 5 last week to 10 psu this week.

 

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