Water of the Everglades Presented By: Emily Kay Reeder Environmental and Water Resources Engineering; University of Texas, Austin

Objective To analyze water depths in the Florida Everglades, relating the water levels to the hydrologic needs of the American Alligator. 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 )

Everglades Geography South Florida South Florida Kissimmee Watershed Kissimmee Watershed Lake Okeechobee Lake Okeechobee 100 Miles 100 Miles Florida Bay Florida Bay

Facts on The Everglades 10, 000 Islands 10, 000 Islands 6 Inches Beneath Sea Level 6 Inches Beneath Sea Level Average Annual Rainfall 130 mm Average Annual Rainfall 130 mm Over 2,000 Plant Species Over 2,000 Plant Species

The American Alligator Largest Reptile in North America Largest Reptile in North America Length 8 – 14 Feet Length 8 – 14 Feet 35 Eggs, 15 Hatch, 6 Live to a Year, 4 Mature 35 Eggs, 15 Hatch, 6 Live to a Year, 4 Mature Populate North Carolina to Texas Populate North Carolina to Texas Thermoregulate Thermoregulate Ectothermic Ectothermic Active at Ambient Temperature of 82° F to 92° F Active at Ambient Temperature of 82° F to 92° F Dormant at Ambient Temperature of 55° F Dormant at Ambient Temperature of 55° F

Adequate Water Depth and the Alligator Thermoregulation Thermoregulation Internal Body Temperature of 86° F to 88° F Internal Body Temperature of 86° F to 88° F Water Temperature of 81° F to 88° F Water Temperature of 81° F to 88° F Deep Enough for Total Submergence (~ 18 inches) Deep Enough for Total Submergence (~ 18 inches) Deep Enough for Cool Temperature Deep Enough for Cool Temperature Escape from Danger Escape from Danger Nest Protection Nest Protection

Research Plan Enter Water Levels at Specific Gauge Station Locations Enter Water Levels at Specific Gauge Station Locations Build Elevation Model for Everglades Area Build Elevation Model for Everglades Area View Temporal Data using the Tracking Analyst View Temporal Data using the Tracking Analyst Perform Raster Calculation with Water Levels and Elevation Values to find Water Depth (Interpolate to Raster) Perform Raster Calculation with Water Levels and Elevation Values to find Water Depth (Interpolate to Raster) Analyze Water Depths, Relating to Hydrologic Requirements of the American Alligator Analyze Water Depths, Relating to Hydrologic Requirements of the American Alligator

Data Sources Everglades Depth Estimation Network (EDEN) Everglades Depth Estimation Network (EDEN) Water Levels Water Levels DBHydro DBHydro Water Levels Water Levels Elevation Elevation

EDEN Everglades Depth Estimation Network USGS South Florida Information Access USGS South Florida Information Access Integrated Network of Real-Time Water Level and Ground Elevation Modeling Integrated Network of Real-Time Water Level and Ground Elevation Modeling GIS Models and Monitoring Networks GIS Models and Monitoring Networks 253 Gaging Stations 253 Gaging Stations Telemetry Equipment for Hourly Data Telemetry Equipment for Hourly Data Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan Large Scale Field Operations Large Scale Field Operations Integration of Hydrologic and Ecological Responses Integration of Hydrologic and Ecological Responses Support of Biological and Ecological Assessments that Measure Ecosystem Responses Support of Biological and Ecological Assessments that Measure Ecosystem Responses

DBHydro South Florida Water Management District's Corporate Environmental Database South Florida Water Management District's Corporate Environmental Database Stores Hydrologic, Meteorologic, Hydrogeologic and Water Quality Data Stores Hydrologic, Meteorologic, Hydrogeologic and Water Quality Data

EDEN Water Level Data 12 Gauge Stations Everglades National Park Given Latitude and Longitude Entered into GIS via XY Data Water Levels Time Series Graph Data Converted to Chart in Excel Joined to each Station by OID Summer and Winter 2006

EDEN Water Level Values STATIONOIDWINTER_DEP W209 BCA916 BCA2024 P3830 CP40 EVER452 S332D_T66 RG175 L31NN85 S336_H94 NP NE1117

DBHydro Water Level Data Downloaded Water Levels Downloaded Water Levels Identified by Dbkey Identified by Dbkey No Parameter to Join/Relate to Elevation Data No Parameter to Join/Relate to Elevation Data No Latitude/Longitude Coordinates to Establish Stations No Latitude/Longitude Coordinates to Establish Stations StationDbkeyDateTimeValue ENPLS163587/29/ ENPLS163587/30/ ENPLS163587/31/ ENPLS163588/1/ ENPLS163588/2/ ENPLS163588/3/ ENPLS163588/4/ ENPLS163588/5/ ENPLS163588/6/ ENPLS163588/7/ ENPLS163588/8/

Future Work View Temporal Data using Tracking Analyst View Temporal Data using Tracking Analyst Raster Calculation to Determine Water Depths Raster Calculation to Determine Water Depths Determine Alligator Sustainability Determine Alligator Sustainability

References Pictures m/images/img0046.jpg /bhflorafauna.html jpg 05/14/obit.douglas/florida.eve rglades.lg.jpg Literature /facts.html /ReptilesAmphibians/Facts/Fa ctSheets/Americanalligator.cfm

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