This Week's Water Conditions Update

August 11, 2023

Water Conditions Tracker
Lake Okeechobee Levels & Caloosahatchee Flow Impacts

On 8/9/23 Lake Okeechobee was at 15.30 feet, increasing by 0.07 feet in the past week. The weekly average flow at S-79 was 3,509 cfs (cubic feet per second) and flow from the Lake at S-77 was an average of 225 cfs. The 14-day average flow at S-79 was 3,220 cfs and has been in the damaging flow envelope (2,100 - 2,600 cfs) for 42 days.

For more information on Lake Okeechobee and estuary conditions go to the latest Caloosahatchee Conditions Report

Water Surface Temperature

This Week

Daily Average for Aug. 8, 2023


Gulf of Mexico: 91.03°F

Caloosahatchee (Beautiful Island): 91.53°F

Lake Okeechobee (LZ40): 90.44°F


Last Week

Daily Average for Aug. 1, 2023


Gulf of Mexico: 89.62°F

Caloosahatchee (Alva): 87.76°F

Lake Okeechobee (LZ40): 87.59°F


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 8/7/23 at 1:44 PM on a rising tide (0.9 ft). The 14-day average flow at S-79 was 3,211 cfs.

Red Tide

On 8/4/23, 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 0 birds with toxicosis symptoms (from red tide or blue-green algae) from 8/1/23 - 8/7/23.

Blue-Green Algae

On 8/7/23 sampling for cyanobacteria by the Lee County Environmental Lab reported the presence of Microcystis at the Davis Boat Ramp as sparse specks. Microcystis was moderately abundant at Midpoint Bridge Park with accumulation along the shore and some streaks. 

On 8/8/23, satellite imagery from Lake Okeechobee showed the presence of an algal bloom on 392 square miles (82%) 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 81 samples collected, cyanobacteria was dominant in 54 samples, 35 samples had toxins present ranging from 0.27 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.

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.

Resources To Follow:

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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