This Week's Water Conditions Update

July 18, 2025

Water Conditions Tracker

Lake Okeechobee Levels & Caloosahatchee Flow Impacts

On 7/16/25 Lake Okeechobee was at 11.76 feet, increasing by 0.29 feet in the past week. The weekly average flow at S-79 was 2,527 cfs (cubic feet per second) and flow from the Lake at S-77 was an average of 73 cfs. The 14-day average flow at S-77 was 0 cfs. The 14-day average flow at S-79 was 2,593 cfs and has been in the stress flow envelope (2,100- 2,600 cfs; RECOVER 2020) for 3 days after 10 days in the optimum flow envelope (750- 2,100 cfs).

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

Water Surface Temperature

This Week

Daily Average for July 16, 2025


Gulf of Mexico: 87.0°F

Caloosahatchee (Beautiful Island): 86.6°F

Lake Okeechobee (Polesout3s): 84.1°F

Last Week

Daily Average for July 9, 2025


Gulf of Mexico: 88.0°F

Caloosahatchee (Beautiful Island): 90.0°F

Lake Okeechobee (Polesout3s): 86.0°F


C-43 Reservoir Will Improve SWFL Estuary Health

On July 15, SCCF staff and board member Bob Brooks attended the South Florida Water Management District's Caloosahatchee (C-43) West Basin Reservoir Start-Up Celebration where water managers and local and state leaders, including Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, applauded the completion of this critical Everglades restoration project that will improve and protect our estuary health here in Southwest Florida for years to come.

Weekly Rainfall Totals

WP Franklin (S-79): 6.09" Ortona (S-78): 3.45" Julian Keen Jr. (S-77): 4.22"

Red Tide

On 7/11/25, the FWC reported that the red tide organism, Karenia brevis, was not observed in samples collected statewide.

Blue-Green Algae

On 7/14/25, sampling for cyanobacteria by the Lee County Environmental Lab reported no visible cyanobacteria across all sites. 

On 7/16/25, satellite imagery of Lake Okeechobee showed the presence of an algal bloom but cloud cover and wind prevented an area from being determined. The previous area from 7/12 was 180 square miles, or 39% 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 is a network of eight optical water quality sensors deployed throughout the Caloosahatchee and the Pine Island Sound estuary to provide real-time water quality data.


Caloosahatchee River Virtual Tour



Red Tide Resources


NOAA HAB Monitoring System - Lake Okeechobee

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