WCA - Everglades Conditions Update

November 27, 2007

 

Rainfall:

Rainfall was relatively high in the Ft Lauderdale region (1”-2”), which had an affect in WCA-2B and 3B, where precipitation was 0.11” and 0.08”, respectively, for the past week (see Raindar.gif). For the rest of the region, rain was negligible (i.e., 0.009” – 0.07”). This was another week with a deficit water budget because ET was 0.94” (see srs.pdf).

 

 

Water Conservation Areas:

Dry season recession rates predominate in the entire region but not as much as they have for the last few weeks, especially in WCA-2A (see WCA_stages.xls). Water depths decreased by 0.08’ in WCA-1, 0.14’ in WCA-2A, 0.1’ in northern WCA-3A, 0.09’ NESRS, but only by 0.03’ in WCA-3B. Water depths are typically above 2 ft, at this time of year, in the WCAs. However, on average, all the WCAs (except WCA-2B) have water depths below 2.0 ft. Stages in WCA-1 are in Zone B, WCA-2A remains well above regulation, and stages in WCA-3 remain below regulation (see WCA_reg_stages.doc).

 

Everglades National Park:

Most stations recorded no rainfall over the 7 d period. ENP wetland water levels were generally down for the week (see Stages.pdf).  The exception to this trend was at P33 (in northern SRS) where water levels have been stable. In southern SRS, water level declined by 1.2” and by 1.6” in the panhandle at EVER6.  With the cessation of pumping from S332D, Taylor Sl. Bridge saw water level drop by nearly 5” last week.

 

Salinity either increased slightly or remained stable across Florida Bay last week.  It was a week of moderate creek flow reversals.  These reversals did not make their way far upstream, though, as salinity in the Taylor River ponds remained below 1 psu over the entire week. Salinity concentrations at the Little Madeira Bay mouth platform held in the mid-to-upper teens throughout the week.  In the north-central Bay areas, Terrapin Bay and McCormick Creek salinity was very low early on (just below 10 psu), then increased into the high teens by the latter part of the week.  In central Florida Bay, Whipray Basin remained well below 30 psu for another week.  In the SRS outflow at Tarpon Bay, salinity increased to nearly 6 psu by Sunday, 11/25.  As of now, the Bay appears to be well buffered in terms of salinity for the dry season.

 

 


 

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