February 21, 2025

Water Conditions Tracker

Lake Okeechobee Levels & Caloosahatchee Flow Impacts

On 2/19/25 Lake Okeechobee was at 13.93 feet, decreasing by 0.18 feet in the past week. The weekly average flow at S-79 was 2,118 cfs (cubic feet per second) and flow from the Lake at S-77 was an average of 1,529 cfs. The 14-day average flow at S-77 was 1,679 cfs. The 14-day average flow at S-79 was 2,097 cfs and has been in the optimum flow envelope (750- 2,100 cfs; RECOVER 2020) for 5 days after 1 day in the stress flow envelope (2,100- 2,600 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): 0.00" Ortona (S-78): 0.20" Moore Haven (S-77): 0.50"

Virtual Water Quality Tour from Lighthouse Beach Park

Click here or on the image above to take a virtual tour from above Lighthouse Beach Park to see how the water looked this week. Photo was taken on 2/19/25 at 11:48 AM on a rising tide (1.4 ft). The 14-day average flow at S-79 was 2,097 cfs.

Red Tide

On 2/19/25, the FWC reported that the red tide organism, Karenia brevis, was detected in 34 samples collected from Florida over the past week. In Southwest Florida, K. brevis was observed at background to very low concentrations in Pinellas County, very low and low concentrations in Hillsborough County, background to low concentrations in Manatee County, background to high concentrations in Sarasota County, very low and medium concentrations in Charlotte county, background to very low concentrations in Lee County, background concentrations offshore of Collier County, and background to low concentrations offshore of Monroe County.

In the past week, the CROW wildlife hospital on Sanibel admitted 3 patients with suspected red tide/toxicosis: 2 adult black scoters (both deceased) and 1 juvenile double-crested cormorant. SCCF documented 5 loggerhead turtle strandings on Sanibel in the past week (4 deceased, 1 transported to rehab). SCCF also documented 1 deceased piping plover (federally endangered population) at Bunche Beach. It is not possible to say whether or not the wildlife impacts noted by SCCF were due to red tide/ toxicosis. 

Blue-Green Algae

On 2/17/25, sampling for cyanobacteria by the Lee County Environmental Lab reported no visible cyanobacteria across all sites. 

On 2/19/25, satellite imagery of Lake Okeechobee showed an algal bloom covering about 10 square miles, or 2% 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.

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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