Lake Okeechobee Conditions Report
May 20, 2008:
According
to the USACE web site, Lake
Okeechobee stage is 9.78’ NGVD,
which is 0.20’ lower than a week ago and 0.66’ lower than a month
ago. The current stage is 0.48’ higher than it was a year ago and
3.53’ below its historical average for this time of year. Reported
inflows include ~250 cfs from the Kissimmee
River. Outflows include 417 cfs
through the S352 and 112 cfs through the S77.
A
muck burial demonstration project was completed last week in the lake’s
littoral zone adjacent to the Indian
Prairie Canal.
Four different tilling and disking methods are being tested for their ability
to sequester soil phosphorus and improve vegetation conditions. A total
of 40 acres have been treated. Pre- and post-treatment sampling was
conducted to measure effects on soil phosphorus retention and the plant seed
bank.
Wildfires
continue to burn in the littoral zone in the southwest corner of the
lake. Approximately 26,000 acres have now burned. The Grassy Island
Fire is completely contained. The Myakka Cut Fire is 50% contained but
continues to spread actively to the east-northeast. Three smaller
wildfires (<100 acres total) have been reported along the western shore and
all but one of these has been contained.
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