July 28, 2023

On 7/26/23 Lake Okeechobee was at 14.99 feet, increasing by 0.04 feet in the past week. The weekly average flow at S-79 was 2,869 cfs (cubic feet per second) and flow from the Lake at S-77 was an average of 304 cfs. The 14-day average flow at S-79 was 2,748 cfs and has been in the damaging flow envelope (2,100 - 2,600 cfs) for 28 days.

Water Surface Temperature

Daily Average for July 25, 2023

Gulf of Mexico: 90.76°F

Caloosahatchee (Alva): 89.31°F

Lake Okeechobee (LZ40): 87.15°F

Red Tide

On 7/14/23, the FWC reported that over the past week the red tide organism, Karenia brevis, was was detected at background concentrations in and offshore of Northwest Florida. In Southwest Florida over the past week, K. brevis was not observed.

The Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife (CROW) received 5 birds with toxicosis symptoms (from red tide or blue-green algae) from 7/18/23 - 7/24/23.

Blue-Green Algae

On 7/24/23 sampling for cyanobacteria by the Lee County Environmental Lab reported the presence of Microcystis at the Alva Boat Ramp as a brownish-greenish surface scum (with a dinoflagellate bloom also present) and at the Davis Boat Ramp and Midpoint Bridge Park as specks. Microcystis was moderately abundant at North Shore Park as streaks with some accumulation along the shore and seawall. 

On 7/24/23, satellite imagery from Lake Okeechobee showed the presence of an algal bloom on 440 square miles (84%) 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 69 samples collected, cyanobacteria was dominant in 46 samples, 42 samples had toxins present ranging from 0.48 to 160 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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