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This Week's Water Conditions Update

July 26, 2024

Water Conditions Tracker

Lake Okeechobee Levels & Caloosahatchee Flow Impacts

On 7/24/24 Lake Okeechobee was at 13.55 feet, decreasing by 0.02 feet in the past week. The weekly average flow at S-79 was 2,457 cfs (cubic feet per second) and flow from the Lake at S-77 was an average of 352 cfs. The 14-day average flow at S-77 was 550 cfs. The 14-day average flow at S-79 was 2,373 cfs, and has been in the stress flow envelope (2,100- 2,600 cfs; RECOVER 2020) for 8 days after 34 days in the damaging flow envelope (>2,600 cfs).

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

Community Greets Incoming USACE Jacksonville Commander

Community members, business leaders, NGOs, and other water quality stakeholders gathered at the Sanibel Marriott Harbour Resort & Spa on July 11 to hear from Col. Brandon Bowman, incoming commander for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Jacksonville District.

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Water Surface Temperature

This Week

Daily Average for July 24, 2024


Gulf of Mexico: 87.1.°F

Caloosahatchee (Alva): 88.1°F

Lake Okeechobee (Polesout3s): 86.4°F

Last Week

Daily Average for July 17, 2024


Gulf of Mexico: 88.8°F

Caloosahatchee (Alva): 89.0°F

Lake Okeechobee (Polesout3s): 88.5°F


Weekly Rainfall Totals

WP Franklin (S-79): 0.38" Ortona (S-78): 2.28" Moore Haven (S-77): 0.80"

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 7/23/24 at 12:49 PM on a rising tide (3.2 ft). The 14-day average flow at S-79 was 2,323 cfs.

Red Tide

On 7/19/24, 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 0 birds with toxicosis symptoms (from red tide or blue-green algae) from 7/16/24 - 7/22/24.

Blue-Green Algae

On 7/22/24, sampling for cyanobacteria by the Lee County Environmental Lab reported Microcystis as present upstream of the Franklin Locks as specks with slight accumulation along the Lock and at Midpoint Bridge Park as specks. Microcystis was moderately abundant at the Davis Boat Ramp with some accumulation along the seawall and some streaks.

On 7/24/24, satellite imagery from Lake Okeechobee showed the presence of an algal bloom covering 280 square miles (60%) 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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