August 14, 2026

Water Conditions Tracker

Lake Okeechobee Levels & Caloosahatchee Flow Impacts

On 8/12/26 Lake Okeechobee was at 11.04 feet, increasing by 0.15 feet in the past week. The weekly average flow at S-79 was 1,761 cfs (cubic feet per second) while flow from the Lake at S-77 was an average of 17 cfs. The 14-day average flow at S-77 was 83 cfs. The 14-day average flow at S-79 was 1,247 cfs and has been in the optimum flow envelope (750- 2,100 cfs; RECOVER 2020) for 5 days after 107 consecutive days and 271 of the past 286 days below the optimum flow envelope (<750 cfs). 

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

Water Surface Temperature

Weekly Rainfall Totals

WP Franklin (S-79): 3.56" Ortona (S-78): 2.45" Julian Keen Jr. (S-77): 2.39"

Red Tide

On 8/7/26, the red tide organism, Karenia brevis, was observed at background to low concentrations in 13 samples from Florida’s East Coast, and background concentrations in seven samples along Florida’s Gulf Coast. In Lee County over the past week, K. brevis was not observed.

Blue-Green Algae

On 8/10/26, sampling for cyanobacteria by the Lee County Environmental Lab reported Microcystis and a dinoflagellate bloom as present upstream of the Franklin Locks, appearing as light streaks along the Lock.

Lake Okeechobee Cyanobacteria

On 8/12/26 satellite imagery of Lake Okeechobee showed the presence of an algal bloom covering about 120 square miles or 26% of open water in the lake.

*Calculation based on apx 467 sq mi of open water area, while total area of lake spans apx 730 sq mi.

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.

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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