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Management decisions for flood control and water resources often impact the natural hydrology (hydroperiod, duration and depth of flooding) of wetlands. These alterations to the hydrology can affect wetland communities and function. WCA 2-A (448 km2) is one of five reservoires in the northern Everglades surrounded by water control structures. We studied the equipotential surface in WCA 2-A for 3 years with a network of 11 continuous recording dataloggers leveled to NAVD83. We also developed a model of the equipotential surface in WCA 2-A on the basis of inflows and outflows through water control structures.
Surface water flows into WCA 2-A from canals and the Loxahatchee Reserve from the north. WCA 2-A discharges to canals and other reservoirs to the south. Results from the study show that the configuration of the equipotential surface is affected by the combination of flow structures in use. Most of the time, the elevation of the equipotential surface decreases to the south, indicating a southerly flow. However, at times a ridge of a high equipotential surface develops in the center of WCA 2-A, dissecting the surfacewater flow into two distinct flow systems.
From the extrapolated equipotential surface calculated by our model, we could see distinct patterns in the duration and frequency of flood events within WCA 2-A. Correlation studies show that some changes in vegetation communities can be correlated positively with changes in the hydrology.
