WMA closure

[dblj006]

This is text from Sun Sentinel:

The closure, which takes effect at midnight Monday, prohibits the taking of game other than fish and alligators and the use of vehicles, airboats, ATVs and other public access, except by special access permit and in Conservation Area 2 from the L-35B levee north to the east-west airboat trail. The closure does not apply to persons operating boats (other than airboats) within the established canal systems or within one mile of those canals in adjacent marshes.

I'm sure this has been covered already, but help me out. Why is this such an emergency? And how long will it last? The water levels are up but what is acceptable? How high can the water be? What is the normal level?
Is this what was normal 25 years ago? Will they open it right away as soon as it becomes normal And why is it specific to Airboats?

 

[cowboy]

DblJ,

Area 2 is still open, well parts of it are.
Area 2 does not really have much tree island habitat, but the other areas closed do.

The stated reason for the closure is the high water drives the deer herds to congregate and the tree islands. This makes them volnerable to poaching, or harrasment and they are usually under stress already during these conditions.

That's why portions of WMA 2 are still open, and the other areas are closed.


As far as water levels, check this link found by Robert o4570.

http://www.fgcu.edu/bcw/hcu.htm

This info is updated often, and I have been looking at it frequently.

It will show you the water levels as recent as last week, and has narrative reports to read if your interested.

How long will it last?
That's the big big question there.

Looking at the data linked above, we are right now at the high water times. If no more big boomers roll in here, then the water should start dropping.

Last year it dropped all the way to bone dry.

The link in the very first post will take you to the FWC official announcement, and thier explanation.
Check it out.

 

[FoMeAirboater]

dblj006 Posted: Is this what was normal 25 years ago?

There isn't anything left in Flordia that is NORMAL, especially compared to 25 years ago. :?

Like I always tell my wife....Florida ain't Florida anymore.

 

[dawg]

YOU CAN THANK THE YANKEES THAT COME DOWN HERE AND MOVE IN!!!

THEY COME DOWN HERE AND DON'T KNOW WHAT A LIGHTER KNOT IS AND WHEN THEY FIND OUT WHAT IT DOES THEY WANT TO PROTECT IT

THEY GO ON THESE GUIDED TOURS AND SEE DEER AND WILDLIFE AND NEXT THING YOU HAVE IS, OHHH WE NEED TO PROTECT THEMM. I AGREE BUT,HAVE YOU EVER SEEN AN INDIAN WITH A RAIN GUAGE AND DID THEY EVER CLOSE IT 30 YEARS AGO NO!!!

COMMON SENSE FOLKS!!!

 

[Doc Holliday]

While it's my personal opinion, I can't see the closure staying in effect for too much longer. I know the water levels in 2A have dropped nearly a foot from their high water mark, and are dropping about an inch a day.

So, unless the water levels in area 3 are being kept high by a release of water from the Big O, they should be reopening soon.

Funny thing is, 2A is the only area open, and there's nobody out there. I was out last Wednesday, and was the only boat there. My bud Chris was out on Friday night early, and he said he was the only boat at the ramp.

I'll probably be out again on Thursday, if anyone's interested in ridin'....

 

[robert4570]

While on the subject of high water and area 2.
When's the last time anybody seen a deer out there?
For me it was 1987 when hunting in Browns Farm , i was parked on the levee and seen a what had to be a 6 or better standing on the south/other side of the canal which saved his a$$.
Once area 2 was turned into a pond , havent seen anymore.

 

[cowboy]

Hey Robert,
Looks like the water may be on it's way down in 3a.

I wonder how long it will take them to make that call, once it does get below 11'amsl

Do you know if they judge it by the regulatory stage for each area, or is it by the deepest measuerment at any given station?

 

[FoMeAirboater]

dawg Posted:THEY COME DOWN HERE AND DON'T KNOW WHAT A LIGHTER KNOT IS AND WHEN THEY FIND OUT WHAT IT DOES THEY WANT TO PROTECT IT.

You're damn right about that dawg!!

Speaking of lighter knots...about 3 months ago, we were clearing our property in the Mulberry Industrial Park (12 acres) and the land clearing company was piling up debris to haul off (he's a Indiana "transplant" by the way) and I looked at the debris pile and within 5 minutes found 6 HUGE lighter knots they had pushed up. Each about 2' diameter and about 4' long....I had his loader operator load them into the back of my truck and I hauled 'em to the house.....didn't even know what they had found. :lol: :lol:

 

[cowboy]

Nice! 8)

 

[basketcase0302]

FoMe,

Don't surprize me Seen em dumped, buried down in Collier for years.

I still got me two huge ones for a rainy day, (or a cold day) :blob6:

Basketcase

 

[robert4570]

Hey Cowboy ,
Yep waters goin down but havent heard a word on reopening anything.
I'll ask at the check station tomorow.

As for the measurements , I've heard a couple versions on how they are gauged . Cumulative station readings for a given area are averaged then the data will help determine what course to take , hopefully for the better.
FWC has the final say so .

happy hunting

 

[cowboy]

Thanks Robert.
I've been away from the computer all week, so sorry for the delayed response.

I gotcha on the overall water level evaluation practices. I kinda figured it would not be a straight answer, or anything that "We The People" would be able to see for ourselves.

Looks like the levels have definately turned the corner, and things should open back up soon. I did not study the graphs for 1&2 or Big Cypress, but 3a is sure dropping fast. No water coming in last week, and the discharge rate was still running high.

Once it does re-open, we can start wondering how long before it's bone dry again, and the fires start burning the orchids outta the pond apples.


I'm still kinda new to riding the South Glades.
I did not realize at first that it was a rollercoaster ride!

Hope you had good luck with your hunt man.

Basket,
I think it gets cooler up there, so hang on to your Lighter Knots!

Later

 

[grant]

Cowboy,

I've been away from the computer all week, so sorry for the delayed response.

Noticed you were missing....was begining to think about a search party

Welcome back.

Grant

 

[cowboy]

Thanks Grant.
It's good to be back.

Been over in Fort Myers helping some of our guy's out with a project challenge. We gotter done!

S/A member In Too Deep trucked us in rock, and backfill materials to do it also.
Thanks Cypress Trucking.

If you need a dump truck loads of something over there, he's the man.

Ah yes,
It is good to be back.
I did miss S/A last week. I'll admit it.

Thanks again Grant.