The only problem is that it's supposed to be a river instead.
Okay, that's not the only problem:
There were also millions of mosquitoes.
Jun 30, 2011
Florida's mighty mosquitoes
Here's a perfect hiking trail, right?
The only problem is that it's supposed to be a river instead.
Okay, that's not the only problem:
There were also millions of mosquitoes.
The only problem is that it's supposed to be a river instead.
Okay, that's not the only problem:
There were also millions of mosquitoes.
Reality check
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| Lots of filling up to do to get from "here" to "sheetflow," Or did Arlene do the trick? |
Jun 29, 2011
Sheetflow's silent roar
As low as waters have been in June …
I wouldn't throw in the towel on sheetflow just yet (see article.)
It isn’t until into July that it rises to full form:
Spatially pervasive, knee deep in the tall cypress, and flowing.
It’s not a flow you can see, per se – unless you are at a bridge where it’s concentrated – but if you are in the center of a strand during its peak you’ll observe an infinitesimally small current move silently south.
Sheetflow has no rapids.
Nor does it allow any dry ground.
Perhaps sheeflow’s surest sign is an inch of water in the pinelands. That means the center of the cypress are three feet deep, and flowing …
Even if you can’t see or hear it.
If or when we get it, my guess is that it will take a tropical storm.
That one we’ll see and hear for sure!
I wouldn't throw in the towel on sheetflow just yet (see article.)
 |
| Animated map of swamp's annual sheetflow cycle: Blue is water and tan is exposed land. |
It isn’t until into July that it rises to full form:
Spatially pervasive, knee deep in the tall cypress, and flowing.
It’s not a flow you can see, per se – unless you are at a bridge where it’s concentrated – but if you are in the center of a strand during its peak you’ll observe an infinitesimally small current move silently south.
Sheetflow has no rapids.
Nor does it allow any dry ground.
 |
| Sheetflow season typically spans the summer and into fall |
Perhaps sheeflow’s surest sign is an inch of water in the pinelands. That means the center of the cypress are three feet deep, and flowing …
Even if you can’t see or hear it.
 |
| An inch of water in the pines is a sign that sheetflow is fully formed as seen near Raccoon Point in September 2010 |
If or when we get it, my guess is that it will take a tropical storm.
That one we’ll see and hear for sure!
Wildfire flattened landscape
 |
| Cypress domes (middle background) are usually more immune to wildfire because they are deeper and damper, if not completely wet ... Although the deepness of our recent drought leveled the playing field. Can you see the green regrowth under the pine island? |
Jun 28, 2011
Everyone's happy ... almost
Deer are happy:
Recent burns give them fresh plant to feed on.
Mosquitoes are happy:
Recently formed shallow pools form perfect breeding ground for their larvae. Even better, gambuzia (i.e., pup-sized mosquito larvae eating fish) were completed depleted from the deep drought, not to return until a deeper and more contiguous water column gives them a conduit by which to repopulate the swamp.
Until then, expect mosquitoes to multiply by the millions.
Okay, I'll admit:
If you're out there slapping at 'em, you're probably not all that happy.
Recent burns give them fresh plant to feed on.
 |
| Can you see the deer? |
Mosquitoes are happy:
Recently formed shallow pools form perfect breeding ground for their larvae. Even better, gambuzia (i.e., pup-sized mosquito larvae eating fish) were completed depleted from the deep drought, not to return until a deeper and more contiguous water column gives them a conduit by which to repopulate the swamp.
Until then, expect mosquitoes to multiply by the millions.
 |
| Trust me, there's quite a few mosquitoes in this photo (and on the photographer) Near Turner River headwater pools in mid June 2011 |
If you're out there slapping at 'em, you're probably not all that happy.
Jun 27, 2011
Rains finally douse flames
Between waters still being so low ...
And big swathes of the swamp being burnt brown:
It's easy to momentarily forget it's the end of June.
Summer rains have their work cut out!
And big swathes of the swamp being burnt brown:
It's easy to momentarily forget it's the end of June.
Summer rains have their work cut out!
Jun 26, 2011
Fire is this tree's best friend
What are the signs of a healthy slash pine forest?
One is seeing trees of all different sizes.
Another is that they are periodically burned.
Sometimes that means setting prescribed fires.
Other years, drought and lightning do the job on their own.
One is seeing trees of all different sizes.
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| Pine and prairie mosaic February 2011 |
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| Pine island June 2011 |
Other years, drought and lightning do the job on their own.
Jun 25, 2011
Gators drop down rung of food chain
It's not often you see a gator this big ...
Or come to think of it – any size at all – on Naples Beach.
Let alone with a fish in his mouth!
Gators of course are freshwater creatures.
Downstream in the brackish waters of the mangroves you'll find crocodiles, or a few of them at least. I recently saw my first one on a tidal portion of the Tamiami Trail Canal. It caused quite a crowd, as many passing motorists had stopped to take a look.
By the time I got there all I head was a splash:
It had just attacked and killed a four foot gator.
Or come to think of it – any size at all – on Naples Beach.
 |
| I was a scavenger of this sand sculpture ... |
Gators of course are freshwater creatures.
 |
| Somebody else carved it, but I came in afterwards to take the photo. |
By the time I got there all I head was a splash:
It had just attacked and killed a four foot gator.
Baby estuaries take shape
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| Beach seeps are a common sight during low tide: Seepage from the angled beach face carries away sand particles, leaving a mini estuary channel behind. It's fun watching geomorphology at such a small and time lapsed scale. |
Jun 24, 2011
Saltwater treason!
What can one state do that three can’t do better?
Answer: In the spirit of the process of elimination we can rule out manage their shared waters.
Florida, Georgia and Alabama have been locked in the so called Tri-State Water War for decades which for that matter may be better described as the Thirty Year War. I prefer the word “dispute” over war. I mean, really – we are the same country. The war analogy could be germane to, say, the Danube River where water is shared among a good dozen countries, most of which have their own separate tongue, but the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint is a conversation among friends, albeit a complex one – hydrologically, politically, legally. I see the same situation in the Everglades. Institutions are in various stages of litigious limbo yet there are no more than a half dozen people at the table at any one time that haven’t switch hats between two or more agencies in the past dozen years.
By war standards, that’s called treason.
But I’m not here to point fingers at people, but rather make observations about data. Did anybody else notice that Lake Buford is up but – Wow! – discharge out of Lake Seminole into the Apalachicola is “off the charts” down.
Don’t worry:
This isn’t another pivotal battle in that never ending water war.
They are simply doing some routine repairs and repainting on Woodruff Dam. Here’s an article that explains. Otherwise, as far as I can tell …
All seems quiet on Florida’s northern water front.
Answer: In the spirit of the process of elimination we can rule out manage their shared waters.
 |
| Can you see the three wading birds? Florida is a peaceful state ... |
Florida, Georgia and Alabama have been locked in the so called Tri-State Water War for decades which for that matter may be better described as the Thirty Year War. I prefer the word “dispute” over war. I mean, really – we are the same country. The war analogy could be germane to, say, the Danube River where water is shared among a good dozen countries, most of which have their own separate tongue, but the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint is a conversation among friends, albeit a complex one – hydrologically, politically, legally. I see the same situation in the Everglades. Institutions are in various stages of litigious limbo yet there are no more than a half dozen people at the table at any one time that haven’t switch hats between two or more agencies in the past dozen years.
By war standards, that’s called treason.
 |
| Just don't mess with our freshwater flows to the Apalachicola estuary. Of course the Caloosahatchee is another matter. |
But I’m not here to point fingers at people, but rather make observations about data. Did anybody else notice that Lake Buford is up but – Wow! – discharge out of Lake Seminole into the Apalachicola is “off the charts” down.
Don’t worry:
This isn’t another pivotal battle in that never ending water war.
They are simply doing some routine repairs and repainting on Woodruff Dam. Here’s an article that explains. Otherwise, as far as I can tell …
All seems quiet on Florida’s northern water front.
Jun 23, 2011
Seeing is believing
It's funny to see one place so wet ...
Then just up the road so dry.
I wouldn't have believed it if I didn't see it with my own eyes.
Then just up the road so dry.
I wouldn't have believed it if I didn't see it with my own eyes.
Jun 22, 2011
Is it or isn't it?
Does all that rain mean the wet season has finally begun?
The term is a meteorologically based, so in the technical sense the answer is yes. Although I might add that for the month of June rainfall levels are still way down.
But even at this suddenly wet spot the nearby box culvert is noticeably still. And standing water – though splashing high up (and over my boots) – was still a good foot or two below the high-water line that rings around all the cypress trunks.
For me the wet season means knee deep water in the domes …
And flowing water at the bridges.
The summer wet season still has lots of filling up to do before it kicks off the dust of the long winter and spring drought.
The term is a meteorologically based, so in the technical sense the answer is yes. Although I might add that for the month of June rainfall levels are still way down.
 |
| With only a week to go, June rains are falling short. |
But even at this suddenly wet spot the nearby box culvert is noticeably still. And standing water – though splashing high up (and over my boots) – was still a good foot or two below the high-water line that rings around all the cypress trunks.
For me the wet season means knee deep water in the domes …
And flowing water at the bridges.
 |
| Can you see the high-water lines on the cypress trunks? |
Jun 21, 2011
"Hit or miss" season slowly soaking in
I often call June “soaking in” month …
But maybe “hit or miss” is more like it.
Consider the southeast corner of Big Cypress National Preserve a big “hit.”
This time last week it was stone dry, as shown on the collage above. Then came five inches of rain and virtually overnight waters rebounded a full three feet. That put water back into the marl prairies (and up and over my boots.)
As for the “miss?”
I stopped by the Tamiami Trail on my way back.
As you can see, the swamp still has a lot of “soaking in” to do ...
Maybe it's a little bit of both.
But maybe “hit or miss” is more like it.
 |
| Collage of LOOP1 Hydrologic Monitoring Station: One week removed. |
This time last week it was stone dry, as shown on the collage above. Then came five inches of rain and virtually overnight waters rebounded a full three feet. That put water back into the marl prairies (and up and over my boots.)
 |
| Just like that, the swamp is soaking wet again ... |
As for the “miss?”
I stopped by the Tamiami Trail on my way back.
 |
| Except for here. |
As you can see, the swamp still has a lot of “soaking in” to do ...
Maybe it's a little bit of both.
Jun 20, 2011
Is it a cloud or is it smoke?
Exhibit A: Cloud
Exhibit B: Smoke
Exhibit C: Both
If in doubt, just take a big whiff:
It's hard to mistake the smell of either, or both.
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| Clouds produce buckets of rain and also pepper the swamp with lightning |
Exhibit B: Smoke
 |
| Smoke from wildfires can come and go depending on wind direction |
Exhibit C: Both
 |
| Fire can create its own weather, too. |
If in doubt, just take a big whiff:
It's hard to mistake the smell of either, or both.
Jun 19, 2011
Rainy season starts with a sizzle
Botanologically speaking, cypress ring in our winter – with the fall of their needles – and also usher back in our spring when the sprout back out in a verdant green.
Is there also a plant that heralds the start of summer?
The Royal Poinciana fits that bill.
The start of each wet season’s start, near the end of May, is greeted by its fiery display of flowers.
Streets literally light up in their presence.
But it’s a strange light in that it’s not luminous at all, rather a deep luxurious shade – a copious canopy of sinewy yet strong branches and fern-like leaves.
Raindrops, wind, and time eventually drop the flame-like flowers to the ground one by one, or in clusters, often in pavement and inevitably in the puddles which, when I see them there …
I half expect to hear them sizzle.
Is there also a plant that heralds the start of summer?
 |
| Royal Poinciana trees usher in the wet season |
The Royal Poinciana fits that bill.
The start of each wet season’s start, near the end of May, is greeted by its fiery display of flowers.
Streets literally light up in their presence.
But it’s a strange light in that it’s not luminous at all, rather a deep luxurious shade – a copious canopy of sinewy yet strong branches and fern-like leaves.
 |
| If you listen closely, you can hear their flowers sizzle in the puddles of the wet season's early rains |
I half expect to hear them sizzle.
Lightning welk
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| Spotting such a big welk was an unusual find: It was half buried in the sand after a surf churning storm. |
Jun 18, 2011
Happy giant welk day!
Little welks don't fall far from the tree,
Or do I meant they grow like weeds?
Of course a watched welk seems stuck in time,
But then quick like lightning they are three times as big.
I'm not sure this has anything to do with welks.
Happy Father's Day!
Or do I meant they grow like weeds?
 |
| Little welk |
But then quick like lightning they are three times as big.
 |
| Big welk |
Happy Father's Day!
Panther king?
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| From humble roots of a hammocky bramble, panther kittens aspire someday to roam unfettered and free. |
Jun 17, 2011
Why did the panther cross the road?
Florida panthers roam far and wide:
Males need 200 square miles and females around 80 to live.
Southwest Florida's panther population is now 150 large, or so the estimate goes. That means that eventually they run into each other and/or motor vehicles while attempting to cross over roads, especially at night, both of which with lethal result.
Wildlife crossings have been strategically placed to help them safely cross under the roads instead.
As for finding more territory ...
That almost makes highway re-engineering look easy.
Here's an article that explains.
Males need 200 square miles and females around 80 to live.
Southwest Florida's panther population is now 150 large, or so the estimate goes. That means that eventually they run into each other and/or motor vehicles while attempting to cross over roads, especially at night, both of which with lethal result.
Wildlife crossings have been strategically placed to help them safely cross under the roads instead.
As for finding more territory ...
That almost makes highway re-engineering look easy.
Here's an article that explains.
Florida ice season
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| Florida's year-rounders find a way to stay cool ... Ice, shade, and plenty of water helps. |
Jun 16, 2011
"Thick as pea soup" season
Notice to Floridians:
A delay in the wet season doesn’t put the summer on hold.
In fact the summer is off to a record hot start.
There’s well-worn national saying about summers in the south, but particularly Florida, that goes something like “it’s not the heat, but the humidity” that makes it such a loathsome and unbearable season. But in fact it’s the thick-as-pea-soup peninsular humidity (i.e., high dew point) and ample amounts of afternoon cloud cover of the wet season to keep the mercury thermometers in check …
Usually daytime highs stay in the low nineties along the gulf coast.
The first week of June saw several days touch up at 97° F. Fortunately by now my blood has thinned and we do have air conditioning (although I spent a lot of time outside in the field trying to take advantage of getting work done while the swamp was so low,) so it didn’t feel that bad.
Far worse than the heat or the humidity are the mosquitoes.
In places they are thicker than pea soup …
And a sure sign that summer is here (no matter how little rain.)
A delay in the wet season doesn’t put the summer on hold.
 |
| June wet season rains were delayed, But summer mosquitoes were in full force on this trail. Only it's not a trail, it's the Turner River! |
In fact the summer is off to a record hot start.
There’s well-worn national saying about summers in the south, but particularly Florida, that goes something like “it’s not the heat, but the humidity” that makes it such a loathsome and unbearable season. But in fact it’s the thick-as-pea-soup peninsular humidity (i.e., high dew point) and ample amounts of afternoon cloud cover of the wet season to keep the mercury thermometers in check …
Usually daytime highs stay in the low nineties along the gulf coast.
 |
| Click here to view Naples historic record, Or here for a look at temperature charts across Florida. |
The first week of June saw several days touch up at 97° F. Fortunately by now my blood has thinned and we do have air conditioning (although I spent a lot of time outside in the field trying to take advantage of getting work done while the swamp was so low,) so it didn’t feel that bad.
Far worse than the heat or the humidity are the mosquitoes.
 |
| Mosquitoes are as thick as pea soup as the water is as green as pea soup |
In places they are thicker than pea soup …
And a sure sign that summer is here (no matter how little rain.)
Sheetflow doesn't happen overnight!
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| Dry pond apple and shriveled resurrection fern Or in other words, dry land and dry sky! |
Jun 15, 2011
Can a deluge extend the drought?
The trail on those animal tracks went cold …
Or rather I mean got “soaking wet” and washed away instead.
The nearby Ochopee weather station recorded 4 inches of rain on Sunday. That filled all the local low spots back up with water quickly – literally over night. But Ochopee is just a small part of the swamp’s vast domain. Until we get a big regional-wide rainmaker, it’s going to take a series of afternoon storms to refill the swamp.
That could stretch later into the summer, if we get there at all.
But first thing first:
That four inch rain unwittingly started at least four new wildfires farther north. We’ll need more rain, and quick, to put them out.
The rain won't wash away the drought as easily as it did the animal tracks.
Or rather I mean got “soaking wet” and washed away instead.
 |
| Low spots fill up quickly ... as shown on the Turner River looking downstream. |
The nearby Ochopee weather station recorded 4 inches of rain on Sunday. That filled all the local low spots back up with water quickly – literally over night. But Ochopee is just a small part of the swamp’s vast domain. Until we get a big regional-wide rainmaker, it’s going to take a series of afternoon storms to refill the swamp.
That could stretch later into the summer, if we get there at all.
 |
| Especially after a deluge of 4 inches in one day. |
But first thing first:
That four inch rain unwittingly started at least four new wildfires farther north. We’ll need more rain, and quick, to put them out.
 |
| Still lots of filling up to do As shown on the Turner River looking upstream |
The rain won't wash away the drought as easily as it did the animal tracks.
Jun 14, 2011
Animal track detective
Low water is a great time to study animal tracks.
Here's a gator:
An otter.
And me.
I sunk in a little deeper than I thought.
The egret was obviously lighter.
Here's a gator:
An otter.
And me.
 |
| All photos from Turner River |
I sunk in a little deeper than I thought.
The egret was obviously lighter.
Jun 13, 2011
Wet season rumbles in!
It’s about as dry as it’s going to get,
But not to worry:
Tractor trailers full of heavy rains are on the way.
Forming first in the swamp then blowing west to the gulf coast.
Here’s a closer look,
Or rather I mean more distant.
As best I could tell from the radar this squall line of cumulonimbus were a good fifteen miles away from where I was standing in Ochopee looking northwest.
Same clouds 15 miles closer and it's pitch black.
But not to worry:
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| Turner River streambed and bridge June 9, 2011 |
Forming first in the swamp then blowing west to the gulf coast.
Here’s a closer look,
Or rather I mean more distant.
 |
| Wet season skyline as seen from Ochopee, Florida June 13, 2011 |
Same clouds 15 miles closer and it's pitch black.
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