Pamela A. Telis¹ and Aaron Higer^2
1U.S. Geological Survey, Florida Integrated Science Center, Jacksonville, FL, USA
²U.S. Geological Survey (Retired), USGS's Greater Everglades Priority Ecosystems Science, Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA

The Everglades Depth Estimation Network (EDEN) is a single integrated network of existing and new water-level gages that provides real-time telemetered water-level data and derives other hydrologic characteristics, such as water depth, recession rates, time since last dry period, and water-surface slope across the greater Everglades landscape. Presented on a 400-square-meter grid spacing, EDEN offers a consistent and documented dataset that can be used to guide largescale field operations, to integrate hydrologic and ecological responses, and to support biological and ecological assessments that measure ecosystem responses to CERP. Other geospatial information, such as soils and water-quality data, will be integrated with hydrologic data from this and other projects on a public website.

Data from a network of about 250 water-level stations in the greater Everglades operated by the Everglades National Park, South Florida Water Management District and U.S. Geological Survey, will be extrapolated to ungaged areas based on hydraulics, statistical analysis, and surface-water modeling. Ground-surface elevation data collected by the U.S. Geological Survey covers nearly the entire greater Everglades area and includes elevations at over 50,000 points with 400-meter resolution. Subtracting ground elevation estimates derived from these data from the real-time water-level elevations computed from the EDEN gages provides computation of water depth throughout the greater Everglades.

Patterns of natural land cover within each 400-meter cell reflects variation in local elevation. The grid of 400-meter cells will be overlain by a mosaic of vegetation, which is grouped into four major communities; 1.) slough or open water, 2.) wet prairie, 3.) ridge or saw grass, and 4.) other, which includes shrub and other vegetation types. Differences in ground elevation, or microtopography, will produce varying vegetation-influenced water depths, flow paths, and flow resistance.

The coupling of EDEN's real-time data approach with biological models, such as ATLSS and Habitat Suitability Indices (HSIs), can help scientists (1) evaluate how well the simulated relationships that drive both biotic and abiotic models reflect and anticipate real-world events and (2) examine trophic level responses to hydrodynamic change. In summary, EDEN provides the hydrologically-based data that can be used to assess biotic ecosystem responses to hydrologic change.

Contact Information: Pamela A. Telis, U.S. Geological Survey, 701 San Marco Blvd., Jacksonville, FL 32207 USA, Phone: 904-232-2602; Fax: 904-899-5097, Email: patelis@usgs.gov

(This abstract is from the 2006 Greater Everglades Ecosystem Restoration Conference.)

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