Water of the Everglades
Presented By: Emily Kay Reeder
Environmental and Water Resources Engineering; University of Texas, Austin
Objective
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To analyze water depths in the Florida
Everglades, relating the water levels to the
hydrologic needs of the American Alligator.
"The Everglades ecosystem must be restored both in
terms of water quality and water quantity and must be
preserved and protected in a manner that is long term
and comprehensive.“
~ The Everglades Forever Act (Florida Statute No. 373.4922)
Everglades Geography
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South Florida
Kissimmee
Watershed
Lake Okeechobee
100 Miles
Florida Bay
Facts on The Everglades
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10, 000 Islands
6 Inches Beneath Sea
Level
Average Annual Rainfall
130 mm
Over 2,000 Plant Species
The American Alligator
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Largest Reptile in North America
Length 8 – 14 Feet
35 Eggs, 15 Hatch, 6 Live to a
Year, 4 Mature
Populate North Carolina to
Texas
Thermoregulate
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Ectothermic
Active at Ambient Temperature of
82° F to 92° F
Dormant at Ambient Temperature
of 55° F
Adequate Water Depth and the Alligator
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Thermoregulation
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Internal Body Temperature of 86° F to 88° F
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Water Temperature of 81° F to 88° F
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Deep Enough for Total Submergence (~ 18 inches)
Deep Enough for Cool Temperature
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Escape from Danger
Nest Protection
Research Plan
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Enter Water Levels at Specific Gauge Station Locations
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Build Elevation Model for Everglades Area
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View Temporal Data using the Tracking Analyst
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Perform Raster Calculation with Water Levels and
Elevation Values to find Water Depth (Interpolate to
Raster)
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Analyze Water Depths, Relating to Hydrologic
Requirements of the American Alligator
Data Sources
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Everglades Depth Estimation Network (EDEN)
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Water Levels
DBHydro
Water Levels
 Elevation
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EDEN
Everglades Depth Estimation Network
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USGS South Florida Information Access
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Integrated Network of Real-Time Water Level and Ground Elevation
Modeling
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GIS Models and Monitoring Networks
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253 Gaging Stations
Telemetry Equipment for Hourly Data
Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan
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Large Scale Field Operations
Integration of Hydrologic and Ecological Responses
Support of Biological and Ecological Assessments that Measure Ecosystem
Responses
DBHydro
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South Florida Water Management District's Corporate
Environmental Database
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Stores Hydrologic, Meteorologic, Hydrogeologic and
Water Quality Data
EDEN Water Level Data
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12 Gauge Stations
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Everglades National Park
Given Latitude and Longitude
Entered into GIS via XY Data
Water Levels
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Time Series Graph
Data Converted to Chart in
Excel
Joined to each Station by OID
Summer and Winter 2006
EDEN Water Level Values
STATION
OID
WINTER_DEP
W2
0
9
BCA9
1
6
BCA20
2
4
P38
3
0
CP
4
0
EVER4
5
2
S332D_T
6
6
RG1
7
5
L31NN
8
5
S336_H
9
4
NP201
10
7
NE1
11
7
DBHydro Water Level Data
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Downloaded Water Levels
Station
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Identified by Dbkey
No Parameter to Join/Relate
to Elevation Data
No Latitude/Longitude
Coordinates to Establish
Stations
Dbkey
Date
Time
Value
ENPLS
16358
7/29/1993
19000100
3.0000
ENPLS
16358
7/30/1993
19000100
3.0000
ENPLS
16358
7/31/1993
19000100
3.0000
ENPLS
16358
8/1/1993
19000100
3.0000
ENPLS
16358
8/2/1993
19000100
3.0000
ENPLS
16358
8/3/1993
19000100
3.0000
ENPLS
16358
8/4/1993
19000100
3.0000
ENPLS
16358
8/5/1993
19000100
3.0000
ENPLS
16358
8/6/1993
19000100
3.0000
ENPLS
16358
8/7/1993
19000100
3.0000
ENPLS
16358
8/8/1993
19000100
3.0000
Future Work
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View Temporal Data using Tracking Analyst
Raster Calculation to Determine Water Depths
Determine Alligator Sustainability
References
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Pictures
http://www.floridaenvironment.co
m/images/img0046.jpg
http://library.thinkquest.org/CR02
14223/bhflorafauna.html
www.educationalimages.com/fl040
005.jpg
http://www.cnn.com/EARTH/98
05/14/obit.douglas/florida.eve
rglades.lg.jpg
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Literature
http://library.thinkquest.org/CR02
14223/facts.html
http://nationalzoo.si.edu/Animals
/ReptilesAmphibians/Facts/Fa
ctSheets/Americanalligator.cfm
Questions?