April 28, 2023

On 4/26/23 Lake Okeechobee was at 14.31 feet, decreasing by 0.02 feet in the past week. The weekly average flow at S-79 was 1,792 cfs (cubic feet per second) and flow from the Lake at S-77 was an average of 852 cfs. The 14-day average flow at S-79 was 1,918 cfs and has been in the optimum flow envelope (750 - 2,100 cfs) for 14 days.

Red Tide

Satellite imagery over the past week did not detect chlorophyll off the coast of Southwest Florida

On 4/26/23, the FWC reported that over the past week the red tide organism, Karenia brevis, was detected in 86 samples collected from Florida’s Gulf Coast. Bloom concentrations (>100,000 cells/liter) were present in three samples: one from Sarasota County, one offshore of Lee County, and one offshore of Collier County.

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

The Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife (CROW) (back on island) received 2 birds with toxicosis symptoms (from red tide or blue-green algae) from 4/18/23 - 4/24/23.

Blue-Green Algae

On 4/24/23 sampling for cyanobacteria by the Lee County Environmental Lab reported moderately abundant cyanobacteria, predominantly Dolichospermum and some Microcystis upstream of the Franklin Locks as streaks and accumulation along the lock and shore. Predominantly Dolichospermum and some Microcystis and Aphanizomenon were present at the Davis Boat Ramp with some streaks and accumulation along the seawall. 

On 4/26/23, satellite imagery from Lake Okeechobee showed scattered low high bloom potential across the western half of the lake, covering about 40 square miles.

Leptocylindrus (top left) caused chlorophyll and oxygen spikes at Beautiful Island. At the Sanibel beaches, the diatoms Chaetoceros (top right) and Rhizosolenia (bottom right) were dominant. SCCF.

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.