Project Work Plan

Study Title: Evapotranspiration and Rainfall Data for EDEN Gages
Study Start Date: 2008   Study End Date: 2010
Web Sites: www.sofia.usgs.gov/eden
Location (Subregions, Counties, Park or Refuge): Greater Everglades
Funding Source: GE PES
Other Complementary Funding Source(s):
South Florida Surface Water Network for the Support of MAP Projects (USACE RECOVER MAP)
Principal Investigator(s): Mike Holmes, USGS-Tampa
Email Address: mholmes@usgs.gov
Phone: 813-975-8620 x127   Fax: 813-975-0839
Mail address: 10500 University Center Drive, Suite 215, Tampa, FL 33612
Study Personnel: na
Supporting Organizations: USGS
Associated / Linked Studies:
Integrating EDEN with Real-Time Hydrology and Biological Responses (GE PES)

South Florida Surface Water Network for the Support of MAP Projects (USACE RECOVER MAP funding)

Overview & Objective(s):

This project is referred to as EDEN, the Everglades Depth Estimation Network, funded by the USACE in 2005 through 2007. EDEN is an integrated network of real-time water-level monitoring, ground-elevation modeling, and water-surface modeling that provides scientists and managers with current (1999-present), on-line water-depth information for the greater Everglades. The target users are biologist and ecologist examining trophic level responses to hydrodynamic changes in the Everglades.

The current scope of work will continue operation and maintenance of 25 gaging stations and will implement the hydrologic tools to support biological and ecological assessments of the impacts of the restoration plan for the greater Everglades.

Specific Relevance to Major Unanswered Questions and Information Needs Identified:

Water-level gages provide information for EDEN interpolations of daily water stage that provide spatially-explicit hydrologic predictions necessary for modeling floral and faunal habitat suitability and distributions across the entire Everglades. These models are critical for evaluations of alternative Everglades restoration plans and monitoring of the habitat impacts of surface hydrologic dynamics.

Status:

In FY07, the surface model was enhanced and an analysis of confidence identified several problem areas along boundaries. The daily model surfaces will be posted to the EDENweb in October with metadata and full documentation. The process of computing new daily maps will begin on a quarterly basis beginning in FY08.

EDENweb will be enhanced with additional webpages for EDEN applications such as related to wading birds and water depth, tree islands and water depth, and more. Additional webpages will provide data to MAP scientists such as ET and rainfall across the everglades on a daily basis. These parameters will serve scientists as they make their biological and ecological assessment of the systems.

Recent Products:

Conrads, P.A. and Roehl, E.A., 2006. Estimating water depths using artificial neural networks. Hydroinformatics 2006, edited by Philippe Gourbesgille, Jean Cunge, Vincent Guinot, Shie-Yui Liong, Vol. 3, p. 1643-1650.

Conrads, P.A. and E. A. Roehl (in preparation). Hydrologic Record Extension of Water-Level Data in the Florida Everglades, 2000-2006. U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report.

Jones, J.W. and Price, S.D., 2007. Everglades Depth Estimation Network (EDEN) digital elevation model research and development. U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2007-1034, 29 pgs.

Jones, John W. and Price, Susan P. 2007. Conceptual design of the Everglades Depth Estimation Network (EDEN) grid. U.S. Geological Survey Open-File Report 2007-1200. 12 pgs.

Pearlstine, Leonard, Aaron Higer, Monica Palaseanu, Ikuko Fujisaki, and Frank Mazzotti, 2007. Spatially Continuous Interpolation of Water Stage and Water Depths Using the Everglades Depth Estimation Network (EDEN). University of Florida IFAS Extension, Circular 1521.

Telis, P.A., 2006. The Everglades Depth Estimation Network (EDEN) for support of ecological and biological assessments. U.S. Geological Survey Fact Sheet 2006-3087, 4 p.

Planned Products:

WORK PLAN

Title of Task 1: Provide ET data for the greater Everglades
Task Funding: USGS Priority Ecosystems Science
Task Leaders: Mike Holmes
Phone: 813-975-8620 x127
FAX: 813-975-0839
Task Status (proposed or active): active
Task priority: High
Time Frame for Task 1: FY08

Work to be undertaken during the proposal year and a description of the methods and procedures:

Using ET data compiled from various sources (ie. USGS and WMD) and based on meetings with agencies and principal investigators (PIs) in FY07, determine preferred method(s) for estimating ET at EDEN gages and through the greater Everglades for the period January 2000 to current. Provide estimates of ET data by gage and by area (ie. WCA1, ENP), if appropriate, on a daily or seasonal basis (frequency based on analysis of available data and agency and PI needs). Make recommendation for format and presentation on EDENweb and work with Heather Henkel, USGS to post data.

Specific Task Product(s):

• Estimates of daily ET data by gage and by area and posted to EDENweb [December 2007]
• Documentation for method(s) used to estimate ET linked from EDENweb [December 2007]

Title of Task 2: Provide rainfall data for greater Everglades
Task Funding: USGS Priority Ecosystems Science
Task Leaders: Mike Holmes
Phone: 813-975-8620 x127
FAX: 813-975-0839
Task Status (proposed or active): active
Task priority: High
Time Frame for Task 1: FY08

Work to be undertaken during the proposal year and a description of the methods and procedures:

Using NEXRAD and rainfall data compiled from various sources (ie. USGS and WMD) and based on meetings with agencies and principal investigators (PIs) in FY07, determine preferred method(s) for estimating rainfall at EDEN gages and through the greater Everglades for the period January 2000 to current. Provide estimates of rainfall data by gage and by area (ie. WCA1, ENP), if appropriate, on a daily or seasonal basis (frequency based on analysis of available data and agency and PI needs). Make recommendation for format and presentation on EDENweb and work with Heather Henkel, USGS to post data.

Specific Task Product(s):

• Estimates of daily rainfall data by gage and by area and posted to EDENweb [December 2007]
• Documentation for method(s) used to estimate rainfall linked from EDENweb [December 2007]

Title of Task 3: Program USGS NWIS database to plot gage hydrographs with rainfall and ET
Task Funding: USGS Priority Ecosystems Science
Task Leaders: Mike Holmes
Phone: 813-975-8620 x127
FAX: 813-975-0839
Task Status (proposed or active): active
Task priority: High
Time Frame for Task 1: FY08

Work to be undertaken during the proposal year and a description of the methods and procedures:

Program NWIS to allow plotting of hydrographs for multiple gages in NWIS or outside of NWIS using NWIS data (daily and hourly values). Hydrograph comparison offer users many advantages when evaluating the Everglades wetlands system.

Specific Task Product(s):

• Program that allows plotting of hydrographs for multiple gages in NWIS [February 2008]