This Week's Water Conditions Update
May 13, 2022
Water Conditions Tracker
Lake Okeechobee Levels & Caloosahatchee Flow Impacts
On 5/12/22 Lake Okeechobee was at 12.73 feet, decreasing by 0.25 feet in the past week. The weekly average flow at S-79 was 1,043 cfs (cubic feet per second) and flow from the Lake at S-77 was an average of 1185 cfs. The 14-day average flow was 1,026 cfs and has been in the optimal flow envelope for 170 days.
For more information on Lake Okeechobee and estuary conditions go to the latest Caloosahatchee Conditions Report
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 5/9/22 at 1:49 PM on a low tide (low tide @ 2:07 PM (1.76ft).
Red Tide
Satellite imagery over the past week has not detected any blooms off the coast of Southwest Florida.

On 5/6/22, the FWC reported that the red tide organism, Karenia brevis, in one sample each from Southwest Florida, Northwest Florida, and Florida’s East Coast over the past week. In Southwest Florida over the past week, K. brevis was observed at background concentrations offshore of Collier County.

The Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife (CROW) on Sanibel received 6 birds with toxicosis symptoms (from red tide or blue-green algae) from 4/26/22 - 5/2/22.
Blue-Green Algae
On 5/9/22 sampling for cyanobacteria by the Lee County Environmental Lab reported abundant Dolichospermum, Microcystis, and cyanobacterial filaments at the Alva Boat Ramp as visible streaks with some accumulation. Dolichospermum, Microcystis, and cyanobacterial filaments were moderately abundant at the Franklin Locks as visible streaks with accumulation along the lock. Dolichospermum and cyanobacterial filaments were present at the Davis Boat Ramp as visible specks.


Over the past week, satellite imagery from Lake Okeechobee showed bloom potential on 20-25% of the Lake.
Resources To Follow:
To learn more about our current water conditions, click on the following links:

A collaborative, weekly analysis, including recommendations for water managers regarding Lake Okeechobee flows.

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.

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