On 8/3/22 Lake Okeechobee was at 12.98 feet, decreasing by 0.06 feet in the past week. The weekly average flow at S-79 was 610 cfs (cubic feet per second) and flow from the Lake at S-77 was an average of 160 cfs. The 14-day average flow was 768 cfs and has been in the optimal flow envelope (750 - 2100 cfs) for 39 days.

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

Rainfall for the month of July was 87% of normal district wide. A deficit of rain in the upper and lower Kissimmee basins led to decreased water levels in the Kissimmee River floodplain and reduced inflows to the Lake from the north. Lake levels are steady during a time of the year when they are typically rising. The lake stage is within its preferred ecological envelope and has been for over 80% of 2022.

On 7/30/22 the USACE reduced target flows at the W.P. Franklin Lock and Dam (S-79) to 7-day average pulse release of 650 cfs from the previous target of 750 cfs. Local basin runoff has been exceeding the targets set for the past several months, so very little water has left the lake from the Julian Keen Jr. Lock and Dam (S-77). 

Satellite imagery over the past week has not detected any blooms off the coast of Southwest Florida.

On 7/22/22, the FWC reported that the red tide organism, Karenia brevis was not observed in Southwest Florida

The Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife (CROW) on Sanibel received 1 bird with toxicosis symptoms (from red tide or blue-green algae) from 7/18/22 - 8/1/22.

On 8/1/22 sampling for cyanobacteria by the Lee County Environmental Lab reported the presence of Microcystis at the Alva Boat Ramp as visible specks with no accumulation and Microcystis and Dolichospermum upstream of the Franklin Locks with visible specks and yellow scum along the locks. Microcystis and Dolichospermum were moderately abundant at the Davis Boat Ramp with streaks and some accumulation long the seawall.

Data from the FDEP blue-green algae dashboard reported 108 samples collected over the past 30 days for the 10 county area. 19 samples had toxins present ranging from 0.26 to 3.5 μg per L which is below the EPA recommended standard for recreational waters (8 μg per L).

On 8/3/22, satellite imagery from Lake Okeechobee showed moderate to high bloom potential in the northern, western, and eastern nearshore areas of the lake. Overall, algal blooms covered about 282 square miles (40%) of the Lake.

Download the algae reporting app on your phone by clicking here or by searching for the ArcGIS Survey123 app in the app store. Once installed, give the app permission to access your phone’s location to receive GPS coordinates of your sighting and camera/media to capture and attach pictures. When you open the app, click “Continue Without Signing In.” 

Next, download the algae reporting survey by scanning the QR code above or clicking here on your phone. Once the survey is downloaded, fill out the required fields and click the check mark in the lower right corner to submit your sighting. Note: If you do not have cellular coverage, you can still fill out the survey and save it in the outbox to be sent later.

Click here to download instructions.

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.

Algae Reporting App.

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