May 9, 2025

Water Conditions Tracker

Lake Okeechobee Levels & Caloosahatchee Flow Impacts

On 5/7/25 Lake Okeechobee was at 11.12 feet, decreasing by 0.20 feet in the past week. The weekly average flow at S-79 was 372 cfs (cubic feet per second) and flow from the Lake at S-77 was an average of 755 cfs. The 14-day average flow at S-77 was 881 cfs. The 14-day average flow at S-79 was 384 cfs and has been below the optimum flow envelope (<750 cfs) for 10 days after 47 days in the optimum flow envelope (750- 2,100 cfs; RECOVER 2020).

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

Water Surface Temperature

Weekly Rainfall Totals

WP Franklin (S-79): 0.85" Ortona (S-78): 1.62" Moore Haven (S-77): 0.38"

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 5/5/25 at 1:37 PM on a falling tide (1.8 ft). The 14-day average flow at S-79 was 446 cfs.

Red Tide

On 5/2/25, the FWC reported that the red tide organism, Karenia brevis, was detected at background concentrations in two samples from Southwest Florida. 

Blue-Green Algae

On 5/5/25, sampling for cyanobacteria by the Lee County Environmental Lab reported abundant streaks and some accumulation of primarily Dolichospermum and some Microcystis at the Alva Boat Ramp. Some specks of cyanobacteria were observed upstream of the Franklin Locks.

On 5/7/25, satellite imagery Lake Okeechobee showed the presence of an algal bloom but cloud cover/ winds prevented an area from being determined. The previous area of the bloom on 5/6/25 covered about 80 square miles, or 17% of the lake.

Become a Citizen Scientist and Get the Algae Reporting App Today!

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 Quality Dashboard

Water Quality FAQ

Find answers to some of our most commonly asked questions regarding water quality and more.

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

Click here to subscribe to the Weekly Water Conditions Tracker

Click here to subscribe to Connecting You to SCCF and other SCCF mailing lists.