According
to the USACE web site,
April
water-quality monitoring results are now available. Seventeen of the 25
monitoring stations had sufficient water for sampling. Total P averaged
111 ppb lakewide (compared to 141 ppb in March) and
33 ppb at nearshore stations (compared to 81 ppb in
March). Total suspended solids (TSS) averaged
35 ppm lakewide (compared
to 33 ppm in March) and 6 ppm at nearshore stations
(compared to 25 ppm in March).
Monthly
phytoplankton monitoring was performed on April 22. Six of nine sites had
sufficient water for sampling. Mean secchi
depth was 0.45 m (compared to 0.18 m in March). Chlorophyll data are not
yet available, but there was a surface bloom in the Pahokee Marina and evidence
of bloom formation at LZ40 (center of the
lake). Samples were collected for taxonomic analysis and a preliminary
identification of Microcystis aeruginosa was made by District staff. Microcystin concentrations were all at or below the
analytical limit of detection (0.2 ug L-1)
except for the Pahokee Marina sample which was 0.8 ug
L-1.