August 18, 2023

On 8/16/23 Lake Okeechobee was at 15.35 feet, increasing by 0.05 feet in the past week. The weekly average flow at S-79 was 2,076 cfs (cubic feet per second) and flow from the Lake at S-77 was an average of 275 cfs. The 14-day average flow at S-79 was 2,792 cfs and has been in the damaging flow envelope (>2,600 cfs) for 49 days.

Water Surface Temperature

Red Tide

On 8/11/23, the FWC reported that over the past week the red tide organism, Karenia brevis, was not observed in samples collected statewide over the past week. 

The Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife (CROW) received 1 bird with toxicosis symptoms (from red tide or blue-green algae) from 8/8/23 - 8/14/23.

Blue-Green Algae

On 8/14/23 sampling for cyanobacteria by the Lee County Environmental Lab reported the presence of Microcystis at Midpoint Bridge Park with visible specks and light accumulation.  

On 8/16/23, satellite imagery from Lake Okeechobee showed the presence of an algal bloom on 60 square miles (13%) of the Lake.

Blue-green algae sampling results for the last 14-days for the 10 county area (Lee, Collier, Hendry, Glades, Okeechobee, Martin, Palm Beach, Broward, Miami-Dade and Monroe). Data from FDEP Blue-green algae dashboard

Of the 82 samples collected, cyanobacteria was dominant in 71 samples, 58 samples had toxins present ranging from 0.25 to 800 μg per L (does not include non-detects) which is above the EPA recommended standard for recreational waters (8 µg per L). 

*Data are provisional and subject to change.

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 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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