October 18, 2024

Water Conditions Tracker

Lake Okeechobee Levels & Caloosahatchee Flow Impacts

On 10/16/24 Lake Okeechobee was at 15.94 feet, increasing by 0.32 feet in the past week. The weekly average flow at S-79 was 4,962 cfs (cubic feet per second) and flow from the Lake at S-77 was an average of 3 cfs. The 14-day average flow at S-77 was 0 cfs. The 14-day average flow at S-79 was 4,700 cfs and has been in the damaging flow envelope (>2,600 cfs; RECOVER 2020) for 40 days.

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): 0.05" Ortona (S-78): 0.00" Moore Haven (S-77): 0.06"

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 10/14/24 at 1:47 PM on a falling tide (2.0 ft). The 14-day average flow at S-79 was 4,862 cfs.

Red Tide

On 10/4/24, the FWC reported that the red tide organism, Karenia brevis, was detected in 28 samples from Southwest Florida over the past week. K. brevis was observed at background to high concentrations in and offshore of Pinellas County and background concentrations in Sarasota County. 

The Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife (CROW) received 3 birds with toxicosis symptoms (from red tide or blue-green algae) from 10/8/24 - 10/14/24.

Satellite imagery from NOAA's National Center for Coastal Ocean Science (NCCOS) showed elevated levels of chlorophyll fluorescence from the shores of Citrus County to Charlotte County on 10/17/24. Chlorophyll fluorescence is used as an an indicator of algal blooms which may include Karenia brevis, the dinoflagellate forming red tide, among other species. According to NCCOS reporting, "areas of red or orange are likely to be K. brevis. Areas that are yellow, green, blue or in estuaries are unlikely to be K. brevis at this time." Karenia brevis has not been observed offshore of Lee County.

Blue-Green Algae

On 10/14/24, sampling for cyanobacteria by the Lee County Environmental Lab reported no visible cyanobacteria across all sites.

On 10/16/24, satellite imagery of Lake Okeechobee showed an algal bloom covering 30 square miles, or 6% 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

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