WCA -
November 20,
2007
Rainfall:
Rainfall
throughout the WCAs was negligible (i.e., 0.08” – 0.02”). Average precipitation
for the Greater Everglades was only 0.04” (see Raindar.gif). This was another week with
a deficit water budget because ET was 1.11” (see srs.pdf).
Water Conservation Areas:
Dry
season recession rates now predominate the entire region but not as much as
they did last week (see WCA_stages.xls).
Water depths decreased by 0.15’ in WCA-1, 0.12’ in WCA-2A, 0.16’ in northern
WCA-3A, 0.11’ NESRS, but only by 0.04’ in WCA-3B and central WCA-3A. Water
depths are typically between 2-3 ft, at this time of year, in the WCAs.
However, WCA-1, 2A and WCA-3A are just barely above 2.0 ft. In northern WCA-3A,
where drought impacts are expected to be severe this spring, the depths are similar
to the drought of last year and about 1.25 ft less than in 2005 (see USGS-site 62.gif). However, the wet
season depths last year were greater and provided for better fish habitat.
Therefore, wading bird prey populations will likely be worse than they were
last year.
Stages
in WCA-1 are about to enter within Zone B, WCA-2A remains well above
regulation, and stages in WCA-3 remain below regulation (see WCA_reg_stages.doc).
ENP wetland
water levels declined over last week. Water level at Shark River Slough
(P33) was down by 0.2”, but remains low for this time of year. To the
south, water levels declined by 1.2 and 2.3” at Craighead Pond and EVER6,
respectively, and
Salinity
managed to concurrently increase, decrease, and/or remain stable across FL Bay
last week. At Trout Creek, salinity was quite variable throughout the
week, flashing (almost daily) from single digits up to the low 20s, but
ultimately increasing to near 25 psu by week’s end. A similar trend
occurred at
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