This Week's Water Conditions Update

March 28, 2025

Water Conditions Tracker

Lake Okeechobee Levels & Caloosahatchee Flow Impacts

On 3/26/25 Lake Okeechobee was at 12.76 feet, decreasing by 0.27 feet in the past week. The weekly average flow at S-79 was 1,750 cfs (cubic feet per second) and flow from the Lake at S-77 was an average of 1,618 cfs. The 14-day average flow at S-77 was 1,785 cfs. The 14-day average flow at S-79 was 1,854 cfs and has been in the optimum flow envelope (750- 2,100 cfs; RECOVER 2020) for 15 days.

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

Sugar Industry Lawsuit Affecting Everglades Restoration Fails in Federal Court

Yesterday, environmental and civic groups, state and local governments, and advocates for Everglades restoration celebrated a major legal victory in federal court. The 11th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in favor of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, affirming its approval of the Everglades Agricultural Area (EAA) Reservoir and Stormwater Treatment Area Project.

Read More

Water Surface Temperature

This Week

Daily Average for March 26, 2025


Gulf of Mexico: 72.7°F

Caloosahatchee (Beautiful Island): 80.5°F

Lake Okeechobee (Polesout3s): 71.9°F

Last Week

Daily Average for March 19, 2025


Gulf of Mexico: 71.8°F

Caloosahatchee (Beautiful Island): 76.6°F

Lake Okeechobee (Polesout3s): 70.1°F


Weekly Rainfall Totals

WP Franklin (S-79): 0.01" Ortona (S-78): 0.01" Moore Haven (S-77): 0.04"

Virtual Water Quality Tour from Lighthouse Beach Park

*Due to adverse conditions, the aerial photo of water quality is not available this week. Please check back on our aerial photo page in the coming days to see the most recent photo and virtual tour. The photo above links to the virtual tour from 3/19/25.

Red Tide

On 3/21/25, the FWC reported that the red tide organism, Karenia brevis, was detected at background concentrations in three samples. In Southwest Florida over the past week, K. brevis was not observed.

Blue-Green Algae

On 3/24/25, sampling for cyanobacteria by the Lee County Environmental Lab reported no visible cyanobacteria across all sites. 

On 3/27/25, satellite imagery of Lake Okeechobee showed the presence of an algal bloom covering 40 square miles, or 9% 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.

Resources To Follow:

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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