April Water Levels Text
April Water Levels Chart
Here is the Lake Conway data for APRIL 2012:
The NOAA prediction of average rainfall was a little optimistic last month. The total of 1.20" for the month was a bit below the 1.8" average. This puts the lake slightly below the lowest predictited estimate for last month and fair agreement with NOAA's average rainfall prediction. At the end of the month the lake level was at 84.67 or a stage of 32%. The lake is well below average and about 0.4' below the average for the April. NOAA is, predicting normal rainfall conditions for the next 3 months. Bearing in mind the NOAA predictions are for a 3 month period it is likely we will start seeing little rainfall in June. http://www.cpc.noaa.gov/products/predictions/long_range/lead01/off01_prcp.gif
The current year accumulated annual rainfall is 3.27 inches which is 9.5 inches less than we had at this time last year. May is the lowest rainfall month of the year so do not expect much for the next 30 days. Even in the average rainfall years the lake usually drops about 6 inches in this coming month. June is when the tap is turned on again.
NOAA is still indicateing a transition to neutral conditions during the summer. This indicates normal rainfall locally. The lake is below normal. It is over a half foot lower than it was this time last year. It is expected the lake level will bottom out above 84.0 at the end of May and begin rising in July. Currently, It looks like we could get a 1.0' lower repeat of last year which could get us back on track for an average winter.
The water temperature has wavered in the high mid to upper 70s and finished the month at a daily average of about 77. Comparing with last year's temperature for this time we are running a few degrees cooler. It is likely the lake will reach 80 degrees in May. This temperature is where the probability of Amoeba issues increased. More information may be found at: http://www.cityofbelleislefl.org/files/39216216.pdf
This is a great time to do aquatic planting out of the water. With the lake level at well below normal the current elevation of 84.67 indicates aquatic planting should take place on dry land up to 6" above the shoreline. This will help prevent them from being too far out in the water during the wet season. Only plants which can withstand more than 2' of water depth should be planted in the water at this time.
If you enjoy a clear lake make sure you have maximized the number of aquatic plants on your shoreline. These plants help consume nutrients which run off from your yard and they provide habitat and food for fish and fowl.
If you are still doing your spring cleaning, please capture all of your cuttings. Sprigs of torpedo grass are very hardy and easily survive an excursion across the lake while growing a new set of roots. Once on the beach they immediately start to take over. A single sprig will take root and in three months it will be a circle of healthy torpedo grass 10 feet in diameter. Considering it is likely over a hundred of these sprigs could easily float away from a weed wacking clean up, your efforts could easily seed another 1000 square feet of torpedo grass all around the lake.
The best approach for controlling torpedo grass is with lake friendly herbicides. These may only be applied with the proper permit from Orange County Environmental Protection Division 407-836-1400. These permits are not expensive nor difficult to obtain. The allowed weed free area on any lot is a maximum of 30’ and there is no “grandfathering” of larger cleared areas. In any event make sure you collect any and all weeds you remove from your beach.
Orange County Lakeshore Vegitation Removal Permit: http://www.orangecountyfl.net/PermitsLicenses/Permits/LakeshoreVegetationRemovalPermit.aspx
Lakefront Clearing Regulations Orange County Code of Ordinances - Section 15-251 through Section 15-256 http://www.orangecountyfl.net/Portals/0/Library/Permitting-Licensing/docs/ArticleVIILakeshoreProtectionCode.pdf
NOAA current La Nina - El Nino Synopsis: http://www.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov/products/analysis_monitoring/enso_advisory/ensodisc.pdf
The hurricane season is coming and it is expected to be lighter than usual. The April 4 report is out and the University of Colorado’s Philip J. Klotzbach and William M. Gray are reminding us it only takes one to do severe damage. http://hurricane.atmos.colostate.edu/forecasts/2012/apr2012/apr2012.pdf
If you would like to see an estimate of the probability of tropical storms hitting where you live check out this site. It is also produced by William Gray of the Colorado State University. http://landfalldisplay.geolabvirtualmaps.com/
Orlando Weather Averages by month http://countrystudies.us/united-states/weather/florida/orlando.htm
Thank you for your help maintaining our lakes.
David Woods PE, TEC Engineering, Inc.
Voice 407-859-8737 - email DWoodsTEC@cfl.rr.com
