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This Week's Water Conditions Update

June 28, 2024

Water Conditions Tracker

Lake Okeechobee Levels & Caloosahatchee Flow Impacts

On 6/26/24 Lake Okeechobee was at 13.40 feet, increasing by 0.01 feet in the past week. The weekly average flow at S-79 was 3,193 cfs (cubic feet per second) and flow from the Lake at S-77 was an average of 55 cfs. The 14-day average flow at S-77 was 28 cfs. The 14-day average flow at S-79 was 5,549 cfs, and has been in the damaging flow envelope (>2,600) for 15 days.

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

What the Rainy Season and La Niña Mean this Year for SWFL

With the expected shift in the coming months into a La Niña weather pattern, less wind shear in tropical waters makes the formation of large and powerful hurricanes more likely. This shift, along with warming waters in the Gulf and Atlantic, set the expectation for a season filled with heavy precipitation, a heightened lake stage, and increased basin runoff to the estuary. 

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Water Surface Temperature

This Week

Daily Average for June 26, 2024


Gulf of Mexico: 86.3°F

Caloosahatchee (Alva): 86.5°F

Lake Okeechobee (Polesout3s): 85.8°F

Last Week

Daily Average for June 19, 2024


Gulf of Mexico: 83.9°F

Caloosahatchee (Alva): 83.9°F

Lake Okeechobee (Polesout3s): 83.8°F


Weekly Rainfall Totals

WP Franklin (S-79): 2.03" Ortona (S-78): 1.95" Moore Haven (S-77): 1.34"

Red Tide

On 6/21/24, the FWC reported that the red tide organism, Karenia brevis, was not observed in samples collected statewide over the past week.


The Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife (CROW) received 4 birds with toxicosis symptoms (from red tide or blue-green algae) from 6/18/24 - 6/24/24.

Blue-Green Algae

On 6/24/24, sampling for cyanobacteria by the Lee County Environmental Lab reported moderately abundant Microcystis and Dolichospermum upstream of the Franklin Locks as streaks with some wind driven accumulation along the Lock/ shore. Microcystis was present at Midpoint Bridge Park as specks with wind-driven accumulation along the shore. 

On 6/27/24, satellite imagery from Lake Okeechobee showed the presence of an algal bloom on 300 square miles (64%) 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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