2017, until recently, has been very dry in Florida with more than 65% of the state experiencing drought conditions. The Throwback Thursday photo above was taken in February of 2009 from the top of the ORCA Observation Tower, not recently as you might imagine.
As of May 2, the Drought Monitor showed that severe drought afflicted our area and much of the state …
Thankfully, the wet season rains finally have begun, and the June 6 Drought Monitor shows some change in conditions with 23% of Florida still experiencing a severe drought down from 40% last month …
Average rainfall for southeast Florida is about 55 inches per year. Rainfall in Florida is fickle …
Unlike 2009, the impoundment overlooked by the ORCA Observation Tower did not dry out this winter. The Indian River Mosquito Control District recently pumped water into the impoundments on the north side of Oslo Road, as part of its annual program of rotational impoundment management (RIM). Water is held over the impoundment so that female salt marsh mosquitoes (Aedes taeniorynchus and Aedes sollicitans) cannot lay their eggs. These mosquito species lay their eggs on moist soil.
Wading birds and ducks continue to frequent this impoundment shown below on May 11, 2017 …
Enjoy the Oslo Riverfront Conservation Area 