South Florida Watershed Journal

Robert V. Sobczak is a National Park Service hydrologist with Big Cypress National Preserve, in collaboration with Florida Gulf Coast University, the Big Cypress Basin, and the multi-agency Big Cypress Watersheds Team. Read the South Florida Watershed Journal blogs at sfwj.blogspot.com.

• "Official tree" of wet season (is in bloom!!!) Posted 5/21/2012 at 8:51 p.m. 0 comments

  When this
  tree blooms,
  it's official:
  
  The wet season is VERY near!

• They're back!!! Posted 5/20/2012 at 7:50 p.m. 0 comments

  Can you guess
  what "they" are?
  
  a. 15-year locusts
  b. Bumper coconut season
  c. Tourists flock summer beaches
  d. Summer rain clouds
  e. a and c only

• Naughty raccoon! Posted 5/19/2012 at 8:25 p.m. 0 comments

  Although I didn't officially
  see the raccoon ...
  
  I didn't know what else to blame!

• Best way to stay cool? Posted 5/18/2012 at 8:57 p.m. 0 comments

  What's the best way
  to stay cool in the swamp?
  
  a. Always have cold water handy
  b. Stay in the shade as much as possible
  c. Don't physically over exert yourself

• Hydrologic snapshot of swamp is better than 3D!!! Posted 5/17/2012 at 1:15 p.m. 0 comments

  Here's an easy way
  to become a swamp expert:
  
  The snapshot shows all the day's data on one page.
  Then click on it to back years (and decades).

• Conversations with concrete Posted 5/16/2012 at 9:02 p.m. 0 comments

  Although water control
  structures may look inert ...
  
  Turns out they actually have a lot to say.
  
  At least this one did:
  

• Does distance weaken authority? Posted 5/15/2012 at 9:56 p.m. 0 comments

  Not in the case
  of operating water flows
  at the S-333 structure.
  
  The monitoring station that controls it
  is located over 10 miles away!!!

• May is Florida's driest month!!! Posted 5/14/2012 at 9:35 p.m. 0 comments

  State wide, May
  is Florida's
  driest month.
  
  Here's a closer look:

• Fastest plant in the southwest? Posted 5/13/2012 at 10:11 p.m. 0 comments

  I had a mile lead, yet this plant
  still managed to dog me down!

• Swampy shades of green Posted 5/12/2012 at 9:24 p.m. 0 comments

  This is the time of the year
  when the swamp turns all green ...
  
  But each plant has its own shade.
  
  Here's a closer look: