April 14, 2023

On 4/13/23 Lake Okeechobee was at 14.22 feet, decreasing by 0.12 feet in the past week. The weekly average flow at S-79 was 2,167 cfs (cubic feet per second) and flow from the Lake at S-77 was an average of 1,498 cfs. The 14-day average flow at S-79 was 2,045 cfs and has been in the optimum flow envelope (750 - 2,100 cfs) for 1 day.

The 14-day average flow is an indicator for the biological and ecological health of the estuary associated with salinity. Flows in the the optimal flow envelope promote a salinity gradient that balances low salinities in the upper estuary for submerged aquatic vegetation and higher salinities in the lower estuary for oysters.

The 14-day average is indicated on the graph of discharges from S-79 below with the light blue line. In the past 10 days, it has been on the threshold between optimum and stressful.

Red Tide

Satellite imagery over the past week has detected small, low concentration patches of chlorophyll off the coast of Boca Grande.

On 4/12/23, the FWC reported that over the past week the red tide organism, Karenia brevis, was detected in 67 samples collected from Florida’s Gulf Coast. Bloom concentrations (>100,000 cells/liter) were present in nine samples: four from and offshore of Pinellas County, two in Sarasota County, two in Charlotte County, and one in Lee County.

In Southwest Florida over the past week, K. brevis was observed at background to high concentrations in and offshore of Pinellas County, background and very low concentrations in Manatee County, background to medium concentrations in Sarasota County, very low to medium concentrations in Charlotte County, background to medium concentrations in Lee County, and background to very low concentrations in Collier County.

The Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife (CROW) (back on island) received 3 birds with toxicosis symptoms (from red tide or blue-green algae) from 4/4/23 - 4/10/23.

Blue-Green Algae

On 4/10/23 sampling for cyanobacteria by the Lee County Environmental Lab reported the presence of Microcystis at the Alva Boat Ramp as sparse specks. Dolichospermum and Microcystis were moderately abundant upstream of the Franklin Locks and at the Davis Boat Ramp as some streaks along the shore and lock/seawall.

On 4/13/23, satellite imagery from Lake Okeechobee did not detect cyanobacteria.

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

Algae Reporting App.