January 6, 2023

On 1/4/23 Lake Okeechobee was at 16.35 feet, increasing by 0.00 feet in the past week. The weekly average flow at S-79 was 1,952 cfs (cubic feet per second) and flow from the Lake at S-77 was an average of 1,223 cfs. The 14-day average flow at S-79 was 1,985 cfs and has been in the optimal flow envelope (750 - 2,100cfs) for 6 days after being in the stress flow envelope for 4 days (2,100 - 2,600).

Red Tide

Satellite imagery over the past week has detected low to high concentrations of chlorophyll of the coast of Southwest Florida.

On 1/4/23, the FWC reported that over the past week the red tide organism, Karenia brevis, was detected in 67 samples collected from and offshore of Southwest Florida over the past week. Bloom concentrations (>100,000 cells/liter) were present in 13 samples: one in Pinellas County, one in Hillsborough County, six in Manatee County, four in Sarasota County, and one offshore of Charlotte County. 

K. brevis was observed at background to medium concentrations in Pinellas County, medium concentrations in Hillsborough County, background to medium concentrations in Manatee County, background to medium concentrations in Sarasota County, high concentrations offshore of Charlotte County, background concentrations in Lee County, and background concentrations offshore of Collier County.

The Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife (CROW) (currently displaced off island) received 3 birds with toxicosis symptoms (from red tide or blue-green algae) from 12/20/22 - 1/2/23.

Fish Kills

The FWC Fish Kill Hotline reported multiple fish kills in Lee County with cold weather as the suspected cause. Species affected include spotted sea trout, catfish, tilapia, peacock bass, and largemouth bass.

Reports of multispecies fish kills in Cape Coral canals were reported with the suspected cause being low dissolved oxygen (measured in one canal at 1.7 mg/L). Fish were reported to be gasping for air at the surface, which is another indication of low dissolved oxygen. Another suspected cause related to this event is cold weather.

Blue-Green Algae

On 1/3/23 sampling for cyanobacteria by the Lee County Environmental Lab reported the presence of Microcystis upstream of the Franklin Locks as a wind driven tan-green scum along the lock. Microcystis and Dolichospermum were moderately abundant the Davis Boat Ramp as a wind driven tan-green scum along the seawall and as streaks.

On 1/04/23, satellite imagery from Lake Okeechobee showed no bloom potential in the lake.