October 27, 2023

On 10/25/23 Lake Okeechobee was at 16.25 feet, decreasing by 0.02 feet in the past week. The weekly average flow at S-79 was 1,944 cfs (cubic feet per second) and flow from the Lake at S-77 was an average of 1,114 cfs. The 14-day average flow at S-79 was 2,038 cfs and has been in the optimum flow envelope (750 - 2,100 cfs) for 1 day after 1 day in the stress flow envelope.

Water Surface Temperature

Weekly Rainfall Totals

WP Franklin (S-79): 0.00” Ortona (S-78): 0.00” Moore Haven (S-77): 0.00”

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 10/25/23 at 9:23 AM on a high tide (2.8 ft). The 14-day average flow at S-79 was 2,109 cfs.

Red Tide

On 10/20/23, the FWC reported the red tide organism Karenia brevis was observed at background was observed at background concentrations in one sample collected from Sarasota County over the past week. Other samples collected statewide did not contain K. brevis. 

The Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife (CROW) received 4 birds with toxicosis symptoms (from red tide or blue-green algae) from 10/17/23 - 10/23/23.

Blue-Green Algae

On 10/23/23 sampling for cyanobacteria by the Lee County Environmental Lab reported the presence of Microcystis upstream of the Franklin Locks as a slight wind-driven greenish/tan scum.

On 10/25/23, satellite imagery from Lake Okeechobee cloud cover or winds above 9 mph that prevented the determination of algal bloom potential on the lake. The previous extent was 120 square miles on 10/23/23.

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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