GoHydrology.org

Fighting conch and hermit crab

noreply@blogger.com (Robert Sobczak) — Sun, 27 May 2012 18:00:00 +0000

Can you see the eyes
of the fighting conch?

This shell packs a powerful punch!

noreply@blogger.com (Robert Sobczak) — Sat, 26 May 2012 23:59:00 +0000

I didn't step on a shell,

or even feel it at the time ...

Can you see the claw of this fighting conch?

But lo and behold when I got out of the water I had a small cut on the side of my foot. Could it have been the work of a fighting conch? Many were around and to be sure, while in the water, I was careful to watch my step. Apparently not careful enough.

The claw of the fighting conch has quite a reach!

Water column comparison

noreply@blogger.com (Robert Sobczak) — Sat, 26 May 2012 18:44:00 +0000

These domes were located right next to each other
and photographed on the same day.

Can you see the difference?

Water column conundrum

noreply@blogger.com (Robert Sobczak) — Sat, 26 May 2012 00:39:00 +0000

Not all water levels are equal ...

Even if they are the same.

This video compares two domes, each right next to the other, that presumably got the same amount of rain. In one the water was clear from bottom to the top, i.e. I could see through. The other was covered with floating plants which obscured my view beneath. It made me wonder if there was a gator underneath.

I didn't go in to check.

Transitional swamp

noreply@blogger.com (Robert Sobczak) — Fri, 25 May 2012 18:00:00 +0000

The Everglades seen from eastern edge
of the Big Cypress, looking east

Simplifying the complex (to a degree)

noreply@blogger.com (Robert Sobczak) — Fri, 25 May 2012 01:45:00 +0000

As complicated as the map looks ...
my driving mantra was this:

"Make it as simple as possible, but not simpler."

Simply click on the symbols to see more detailed information for each (or rather most) of the sites.

I update the map weekly, thus it will be a fun and informative (and handy) way to watch hydrologic conditions evolve in the Everglades as the wet season unfolds.

Coding is relatively self explanatory:

The presence of surface water is indicated by the cypress trees. The color coding within the cypress trees indicate the flooding level at that site. Where surface water is not present, i.e. it's below the ground, you will see the flame symbols pop up instead. The color coding within the flames indicate the degree of drought severity. Major water control structures are indicated by the square-like symbols. Color coding within the structure symbols indicate the differential in water level, i.e. pooling, between the headwater and tailwater pools. Can you see how the S-10 structures are color coded purple? That means they stack up over 3 feet of water compared to only 1-2 feet behind the S-12s. Discharge at the structures is indicated by the pink bars. For example, all the S12s are closed except for the S12D which, if you look closely at the map, is indicated as so.

If you click on the S12D symbol it will take you to detailed statistical and historical charts.

The S-12D is flowing again.
That's just one of the things you can glean from the map.

What else does the map show?

Along the bottom it plots up a flow transect for the Tamiami Trail from Carnestown to Dade Corners (S-344) and also, for comparative purposes, flows for other major structures of the Everglades (i..e S-11s and S-10s ... neither of which is currently flowing) and Lake Okeechobee (i.e. S-77 Caloosahatchee, S-308 St Lucie and S-65E Kissimmee) are displayed.

Water elevation above mean sea level is shown by the white numbers. At the top of the map, can you see where Lake Okeechobee's stage is indicated as 11.6 ft msl? Now compare that to just downstream in WCA1 where water stage almost four feet higher at 16.1 ft msl. That's Exhibit A as to why pumps are needed in the Everglades! (Last time I checked water doesn't flow downhill.) Similar stage intricacies are apparent on the map further downstream, but I will save those for another day.

The map also uses diamonds (on the right hand side) to elucidate the complex relationship between discharge at the S-333 and S-331 water control structures and water stage at the G-3273 and Angels monitoring stations. Blue diamonds means water is being diverted towards the northeast portion of Everglades National Park and red diamonds means the water control structures are diverting it away.

Water control structures giveth (and taketh away)!

Photo of S-12D
with S-333 in background

I'm not saying the map is easy to read ...

But if you give it a chance it can help unlock the riddle of the water control structures the next time you happen to drive by.

"Actual" snapshot of Everglades

noreply@blogger.com (Robert Sobczak) — Thu, 24 May 2012 18:00:00 +0000

Can you see the ridges and sloughs?

Hydrologic "snapshot" of Everglades

noreply@blogger.com (Robert Sobczak) — Wed, 23 May 2012 23:35:00 +0000

This map provides a "weekly updated"
hydrologic snapshot of the Everglades.

It's "interactive," too:
Click on the icons to view
statistical and historical charts of the data.

To view it (and use it) week after week,
simply click on the Glades Tab
at the top of Go Hydrology!

March of the wetting front?

noreply@blogger.com (Robert Sobczak) — Wed, 23 May 2012 18:00:00 +0000

The wetting front isn't usually this distinctive:
The line in the swamp was actually
an artifact of a recent burn.

Summer "bounce" starts early

noreply@blogger.com (Robert Sobczak) — Wed, 23 May 2012 01:11:00 +0000

Has the wet season "officially" started?

If a rain drop is a rain drop is a rain drop ...
I would say the answer is yes.

The swamp gets an early start
on its summer rebound

Water levels are still a vertical foot from wetting up in the pines.

But getting the tall cypress flooded in May isn't a bad start.

Royal Poinciana

noreply@blogger.com (Robert Sobczak) — Tue, 22 May 2012 18:00:00 +0000

They bloom in May

Seasonal shift is afoot

noreply@blogger.com (Robert Sobczak) — Mon, 21 May 2012 23:43:00 +0000

Here's three other signs
that the wet season is near.

Can you see all the signs?

a. The sign, i.e. the school year is almost over
b. The tree, i.e. the royal poinciana is in bloom
c. The lack of cars, i.e the tourists are gone.

Note to reader:
Ignore the blue sky!

They're back! (part 2)

noreply@blogger.com (Robert Sobczak) — Mon, 21 May 2012 18:00:00 +0000

Hint: I'm not talking about the tourists.
They won't return until fall.

They're back!

noreply@blogger.com (Robert Sobczak) — Sun, 20 May 2012 22:15:00 +0000

(Hint: I'm not talking about the coconuts on these trees.)

Surprisingly fresh

noreply@blogger.com (Robert Sobczak) — Sun, 20 May 2012 18:00:00 +0000

That raccoon couldn't
have been far away.

Road berm blues

noreply@blogger.com (Robert Sobczak) — Sat, 19 May 2012 23:32:00 +0000

Why did the turtle cross the road?

In this case the reason was to lay eggs.

These eggs were freshly broken,
presumably by a raccoon.

The elevated road berm serves as convenient high ground for making a nest, but doing so often involves crossing the road. That can be precarious with speeding vehicles whizzing by. Although safely crossing the road doesn't guarantee success ...

This nest was done in by a scavenging raccoon.

Nothing quite like a cool breeze!

noreply@blogger.com (Robert Sobczak) — Sat, 19 May 2012 18:00:00 +0000

Now, if I could only figure out
how to roll the window back up.

Even better than water?

noreply@blogger.com (Robert Sobczak) — Sat, 19 May 2012 00:49:00 +0000

What's the best way
to stay cool in the swamp?

a. Always have cold water handy
b. Stay in the shade as much as possible
c. Don't physically over exert yourself

Or could the answer be this?

Distant view of S-333

noreply@blogger.com (Robert Sobczak) — Fri, 18 May 2012 18:00:00 +0000

As seen from the S-12D
water control structure,
looking east

Hydrologic snapshot of swamp

noreply@blogger.com (Robert Sobczak) — Thu, 17 May 2012 15:50:00 +0000

This map provides a "weekly updated"
hydrologic snapshot of Big Cypress Nat'l Preserve.

It's "interactive," too:
Click on the icons to view
statistical and historical charts of the data.

To view it (and use it) week after week,
simply click on the Swamp Tab
at the top of Go Hydrology!

Back door into swamp?

noreply@blogger.com (Robert Sobczak) — Thu, 17 May 2012 15:00:00 +0000

If you're traveling from Miami,
once you pass the S12A you officially
enter Big Cypress Nat'l Preserve

Conversations with concrete

noreply@blogger.com (Robert Sobczak) — Thu, 17 May 2012 00:04:00 +0000

Just because you lead a donkey to water ...

Doesn't mean you can make it drink.

This above hydrograph displays the actual flow rates at the S-333, as measured by the US Army Corps of Engineers (via their Daily Report). The structure has not been flowing since the beginning of the month, despite water levels at G-3273 being at suitable levels for doing so. Side note: The photo of flowing water at the S-333 was taken in November 2010. Can you see on the hydrograph above that the flow rate was around 200-300 cfs?

The same applies with the hydrograph that governs flows at the S-333 water control structure. The G-3273 hydrograph suggest that the gates should be open, but word from the field is that it isn't flowing a drop.

Or, at least, that's what the Corps of Engineer's Daily Report reads.

Hydrographs, you see, are not dictatorial ...

Rather, they provide general guidance.

Hydrographs add meaning
to what would otherwise
be concrete and steel.

That being said, I didn't go out and check the flow rate in the field, at least not recently. To do that for every structure would of course be impossible, too. Of course, on any given day when I'm out at any given structure I try to remember to bring my hydrographs along. It's really the only way to see what's going on.

Otherwise you're just looking at concrete.

S-333 in action

noreply@blogger.com (Robert Sobczak) — Wed, 16 May 2012 18:00:00 +0000

On this day it was flowing, but how much?
That and more tomorrow!

Hydrologically connected at the hip

noreply@blogger.com (Robert Sobczak) — Wed, 16 May 2012 01:48:00 +0000

Here's the structure that delivers water
to northeast Shark River Slough.

The S-333 is located along the Tamiami Trail at a slight jog in the road where Water Conservation 3A and 3B meet. The structure will provide the source of water to the soon to be constructed One Mile Bridge (located out of sight along the canal (L29) that vanishes in the distance) for delivering water to Everglades National Park's northeast Shark River Slough. To me, the most confusing thing about the structure is that its operation is based on a monitoring station (G-3273) located over ten miles away.

Here's the hydrograph of the
monitoring station that controls it.

Here's the hydrograph for the G-3273 hydrologic monitoring station. It is located in the northeast Shark River Slough portion of Everglades National Park. Rise of water levels at G-3273 into the red zone prompts water managers to shut the S-333 gates due to flooding in developed areas adjacent to the park. Gates are reopened when water levels at G-3273 drop into the blue zone. Of course if they drop too low (into the gray zone) there usually isn't enough water to flow even if the gates are open.

I don't know which of the two is more confusing.

Most baffling of all is their relative locations:

The two are located over ten miles apart!

Cracked swamp

noreply@blogger.com (Robert Sobczak) — Tue, 15 May 2012 18:00:00 +0000

Fragile: Swamp will break during severe drought
As seen a year ago in April 2011