This Week's Water Conditions Update

June 26, 2026

Water Conditions Tracker

Lake Okeechobee Levels & Caloosahatchee Flow Impacts

On 6/24/26 Lake Okeechobee was at 10.97 feet, decreasing by 0.14 feet in the past week. The weekly average flow at S-79 was 394 cfs (cubic feet per second) while flow from the Lake at S-77 was an average of 412 cfs. The 14-day average flow at S-77 was 369 cfs. The 14-day average flow at S-79 was 428 cfs and has been below the optimum flow envelope (<750 cfs; RECOVER 2020) for 63 consecutive days and for 227 of the past 242 days.

For more information on Lake Okeechobee and estuary conditions go to the latest Caloosahatchee Conditions Report.

Water Surface Temperature

This Week

Daily Average for June 24, 2026


Gulf of Mexico: 88.9°F

Caloosahatchee (Fort Myers): 90.3°F

Lake Okeechobee: 86.2°F

Last Week

Daily Average for June 17, 2026


Gulf of Mexico: 86.4°F

Caloosahatchee (Fort Myers): 88.7°F

Lake Okeechobee: 84.9°F

Weekly Rainfall Totals

WP Franklin (S-79): 0.25" Ortona (S-78): 0.83" Julian Keen Jr. (S-77): 0.78"

Become an Advocate for Water Quality in Southwest Florida

The Preserving Paradise program brings together 20 Southwest Florida locals from across different industries and community organizations to learn about the Everglades ecosystem's role in our region's economy. ⁠⁠Applications are due by Friday, June 27. ⁠

Red Tide

On 6/19/26, the red tide organism, Karenia brevis, was observed at background concentrations in two samples collected offshore of Southwest Florida, in one sample each from offshore of Pinellas and Hillsborough counties.


Wildlife Impacts

In the past week, the CROW wildlife hospital on Sanibel admitted 1 patient for suspected red tide/toxicosis: 1 adult ruddy turnstone (still in care).

Blue-Green Algae

On 6/22/26, sampling for cyanobacteria by the Lee County Environmental Lab reported Microcystis as present upstream of the Franklin Locks, appearing as specks.

Lake Okeechobee Cyanobacteria

On 6/24/26 satellite imagery of Lake Okeechobee showed the presence of an algal bloom covering about 220 square miles or 47% of the lake.

Become a Citizen Scientist and Get the Algae Reporting App Today!

SCCF wants to know when and where all types of algae sightings occur to monitor conditions around the islands and to investigate algae bloom occurrence with patterns in seasonal weather changes and Lake Okeechobee water management practices.


Click on and bookmark this link to report an algal bloom sighting.

Resources To Follow:

To learn more about our current water conditions, click on the following links:


Water Quality Dashboard


Water Quality FAQ

Find answers to some of our most commonly asked questions regarding water quality and more.


Water Conditions Update Archive


Caloosahatchee Conditions Report

A collaborative, weekly analysis, including recommendations for water managers regarding Lake Okeechobee flows.


RECON

SCCF's River, Estuary and Coastal Observing Network (RECON) is a network of water quality sensors deployed throughout the Caloosahatchee River and Estuary to provide real-time, water quality data to scientists, policy makers, and the general public.


Caloosahatchee River Virtual Tour



Red Tide Resources


NOAA HAB Monitoring System - Lake Okeechobee

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