WCA - Everglades Conditions Update

December 11, 2007

 

Rainfall:

Rainfall throughout the WCAs was negligible (i.e., 0.01” – 0.07”) (see Raindar.gif). This was another week with a deficit water budget because ET was o.92” (see srs.pdf).

 

 

Water Conservation Areas:

Excellent (for wading birds) dry season recession rates continue to dominate the entire region (see WCA_stages.xls). Only two regions did not conform to the general weekly recession pattern of -0.05 ft to -0.16 ft; WCA-3B, where seepage out of WCA-3A appears to be keeping 3B hydrated, and the center of 2B, where recession rates are too high because marsh water has a tendency to easily drain to the East. Although recession rates are GOOD, the depths in the Everglades remain too deep for wading bird foraging (see WCA stages.xls). This is normally not an issue at this time of year because foraging in support of nesting behavior does not usually begin until February. Only the NW corner of WCA-3A has proper depths and recession rates to support wading birds. However, it is unknown if birds are using this area and if fish for prey are available (Fish may not have yet recovered from the current drought).  Stages in WCA-1 and WCA-3 are below regulation and WCA-2A remains about one foot above regulation (see WCA_reg_stages.doc).

 

Everglades National Park:

Another week of light rainfall brought declining water levels across ENP wetlands (see Stages.pdf).  Water level in Shark River Slough (@ P33) was down by nearly 0.06 ft (following several weeks of little change).  In the southern part of the system, water level declined by 0.07 ft at Craighead Pond.  Stage was also down in the panhandle by 0.06 ft.  Taylor Sl. Bridge saw water level drop by nearly 0.19 ft last week (not unusual for this time of year). 

 

Salinity remained stable across Florida Bay last week (see Salinity.pdf).  In the Taylor River ponds salinity remained below 1 psu over the entire week.  In the north-central Bay areas, Terrapin Bay and McCormick Creek remained very low all week (8 – 13 psu).  In central Florida Bay, Whipray Basin salinity held just below 30 psu for another week.  In the SRS outflow at Tarpon Bay, salinity decreased slightly to 4 psu by Sunday, 12/9.  As of now, the Bay appears to be well buffered in terms of salinity for the dry season.

 

 


 

Back to Lake Okeechobee Operations Main Page

Back to U.S. Army Corps of Engineers WSE Homepage