September 16, 2022

On 9/14/22 Lake Okeechobee was at 12.59 feet, increasing by 0.08 feet in the past week. The weekly average flow at S-79 was 2,755 cfs (cubic feet per second) and flow from the Lake at S-77 was an average of 0 cfs. The 14-day average flow at S-79 was 2,735 cfs and has been in the damaging flow envelope (>2,600 cfs) for 8 days.

US Army Corps reduces flow

As lake levels decreased to unusually low levels for the wet season and entered the "Water Shortage Management Band" of the lake regulation schedule, the USACE reduced target flows at the W.P. Franklin Lock and Dam (S-79) to a 7-day average pulse release of 0 cfs from the previous target of 457 cfs.

Recently, local basin runoff has resulted in 14-day average flows >2,600 cfs at S-79, which is in the RECOVER 2020 damaging flow envelope for the Caloosahatchee Estuary. Therefore, we support the current release schedule while excessive basin runoff conditions persist.

Red Tide

Satellite imagery over the past week has not detected any blooms off the coast of Southwest Florida.

On 9/9/22, the FWC reported that the red tide organism, Karenia brevis was not observed in samples collected statewide.

The Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife (CROW) on Sanibel received no birds with toxicosis symptoms (from red tide or blue-green algae) from 9/6/22 - 9/12/22.

Blue-Green Algae

On 9/12/22 sampling for cyanobacteria by the Lee County Environmental Lab reported the presence of Microcystis upstream of the Franklin Locks as sparse specks and slight accumulation along the lock. Microcystis was moderately abundant at the Davis Boat Ramp as sparse specks and slight accumulation along the ramp.

Data from the FDEP blue-green algae dashboard reported 87 samples collected over the past 30 days for the 10 county area. 4 samples had toxins present. with 0.45 μg per L which is below the EPA recommended standard for recreational waters (8 μg per L).

On 9/14/22, satellite imagery from Lake Okeechobee showed low to moderate bloom potential in the northwestern area of the lake. Overall, algal blooms covered about 138 square miles (20%) of the Lake.