Although Lake Okeechobee and Everglades wetlands/Stormwater Treatment Areas (STAs) were most heavily damaged by Hurricane Wilma, the storm had impacts throughout the SFWMD, from central Florida all the way to the Florida Keys. Preliminary assessments of environmental impacts in other parts of the District include, from north to south:
Kissimmee Region: Most Upper Chain of Lakes are above regulation schedule; the Kissimmee River floodplain had a 6-ft. rise due to the storm; water levels in the restoration areas are currently too high to determine if there has been damage.
St. Lucie & Caloosahatchee estuaries: Water quality sampling will be taking place this week. No reports of visible damage to the estuaries.
Water Conservation Areas (WCAs): Minimal rise in water levels due to the storm, which were already high in WCAs 2 and 3. Monitoring platforms in ENP are reported to be damaged or without power, so data is incomplete.
Florida Bay: Data from Everglades National Park (ENP) stations has deteriorated due to Wilma, and reliable depth measurements are not available. However, it appears that Wilma brought a surge of higher salinity water up to Taylor & Shark Rivers and into McCormick Creek.
For more information about environmental impacts from Hurricane Wilma on the South Florida Water Management District's regional flood control and water management infrastructure, and on the sections of this system that are vital to restoring the Everglades, re-visit this site, as well as www.sfwmd.gov
Northern Everglades
Reviving the River of Grass
After Hurricane Wilma
