Lake Okeechobee Conditions Report
April 15, 2008:
According
to the USACE web site, Lake
Okeechobee stage is 10.48’ NGVD,
which is the same as a week ago and 0.30’ higher than a month ago.
The current stage is 0.41’ higher than it was a year ago and 3.61’
below its historical average for this time of year. Total reported
inflows exceed 4800 cfs and include the Kissimmee
River (~1900 cfs), S71 and S72 (~130 cfs), S84 (~40 cfs), S91 (~2160 cfs), and the L8 at Canal Point (~640 cfs).
Although not reported, additional inflows likely continue through the S77 as
well. No outflows are reported.
March
water-quality monitoring results are now available. Fifteen of the 25
monitoring stations had sufficient water for sampling. Total P averaged
141 ppb lakewide (compared to 152 ppb in February)
and 81 ppb at nearshore stations (compared to 77 ppb
in February). Total suspended solids (TSS)
averaged 33 ppm lakewide
(compared to 54 ppm in February) and 25 ppm at nearshore
stations (compared to 26 ppm in February).
The
monthly submerged-aquatic-vegetation (SAV) survey was
completed last week. Water clarity was generally conducive to plant
growth with secchi depths greater than 50% of total
depths at 26 of the 30 sites sampled. The macroalga
Chara remains the dominant SAV
species and was found at 12 of the 30 sites. One species of vascular SAV, Vallisneria americana,
continues to be present in very low density at a few sites around King’s
Bar on the northern shoreline and a few sites along the western shoreline. Potamogeton illinoensis
(pondweed) was observed in very low density along the western shoreline near Observation Island.
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