This Week's Water Conditions Update
January 14, 2022
Water Conditions Tracker
Lake Okeechobee Levels & Caloosahatchee Flow Impacts
On 1/12/22 Lake Okeechobee was at 15.20 feet, decreasing by 0.20 feet in the past week. The weekly average flow at S-79 was 2,100 cfs (cubic feet per second) and flow from the Lake at S-77 was an average of 1,622 cfs. The 14-day average flow on 1/12/22 was 2,041 cfs and has been in the optimal flow envelope (750 - 2,100 cfs) for 49 days.
For more information on Lake Okeechobee and estuary conditions go to the latest Caloosahatchee Conditions Report
Virtual Water Quality Tour from Lighthouse Beach
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 1/10/22 at 11:44 AM on a falling tide (low tide @ 12:24 PM (0.69 ft)).
Red Tide
Satellite imagery over the past week has shown no to low concentrations of chlorophyll off the coast of Southwest Florida. Karenia brevis and/or other algal species may be contributing to the chlorophyll concentrations.

On 1/7/22, the FWC reported that K. brevis was not observed in samples collected statewide over the past week

The Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife (CROW) on Sanibel received 13 birds with toxicosis symptoms (from red tide or blue-green algae) from 1/3/22 - 1/8/22.
Blue-Green Algae
On 1/10/22 sampling for cyanobacteria by the Lee County Environmental Lab reported the
presence of Microcystis and Dolichospermum at the Alva Boat Ramp as visible specks with no accumulation/streaks and upstream of the Franklin Locks as visible specks and streaks.

Over the past week, satellite imagery from Lake Okeechobee showed cyanobacteria primarily along the western shore of the lake.
Resources To Follow:
To learn more about our current water conditions, click on the following links:

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

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.



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