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Last updated: June 11, 2003
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Part 1: Ecosystem Processes and Simulated Surface-Water Flows
Poster presented May 1999, at the South Florida Restoration Science Forum
Poster presented by: Henry Ruhl
Introduction
The interconnected wetlands of Taylor Slough and nearshore embayments
of Florida Bay constitute a critically sensitive component of the
Everglades ecosystem. Flora and fauna in the wetlands and aquatic life in the
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Flow measurements.
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embayments are mutually dependent on the magnitude, duration, and
timing of freshwater inflows. Current restoration efforts are focused
on sustaining hydroperiods in the wetlands and salinity levels in the
embayments that are consistent with habitat requirements. The purpose of
the interdisciplinary Southern Inland and Coastal System (SICS) Project
is to synthesize scientific findings from hydrologic studies and integrate
these into a model to aid research and management of this ecosystem.
The SICS model is founded on current scientific findings and field-collected
data. It simulates both sheet flow in the wetlands and tidal flows in the
embayments. Thus, the interacting effects of freshwater inflows on
hydroperiods and flow patterns in the wetlands and dynamic forces that
affect flow and salinity conditions in the tidal embayments can be
simultaneously evaluated. This comprehensive information is invaluable
to the decision-making process of land and resource managers for
planning, evaluating, and executing restoration actions.
Ecosystem Processes
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(Click on image for full-sized version.)
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Complex processes interact within the hydrologic cycle of the
Southern Inland and Coastal System to influence ecosystem
functions. Sediment cores are collected and analyzed by
scientists to reconstruct the ecosystem history and thereby
estimate how the system functioned in the past. Surface-water
inflows, precipitation, and ground-water exchanges interact with
evaporation and plant transpiration processes to define the
amount of water flowing through the wetlands to Taylor Slough to
Florida Bay. Land- surface gradients, resistance effects of
vegetation, dynamic forces of wind, and tidal influences from
Florida Bay combine to determine the rate of flow and transport of
nutrients that can affect living resources. Empirical coefficients
describing these hydrologic ecosystem properties, were used to
develop the SICS model.
Simulated Surface-Water Flows
The SICS model simulates water levels, flow velocities, and mass fluxes throughout the Taylor Slough and Florida Bay area identified in the map to the right. Model input consists of data describing ecosystem properties, for example, land-surface elevations and vegetation characteristics, in addition to coefficients representing spatially varied processes, such as friction resistance and surface stress. Measured flow and transport conditions are supplied to calibrate the model and to conduct simulations. Color-coded contours of water levels and vectors representing the direction and magnitude of flows illustrate output produced by the model. The effects of freshwater inflows on hydroperiods in the wetlands and salinity conditions in the embayments can be evaluated from this model output.
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Map showing surface-water flow. (Click on map for full-sized version.)
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Support and assistance provided by:
National Park Service/Everglades National Park
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
South Florida Water Management District
Big Cypress National Preserve
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
For more information, see the South Florida Information Access
website at: http://sofia.usgs.gov.
Next: Ecosystem history and living resources
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