Lake
Okeechobee Conditions Report May 6, 2008:
According
to the USACE web site, Lake
Okeechobee stage is 10.11’ NGVD,
which is 0.20’ lower than a week ago and 0.21’ lower than a month
ago. The current stage is 0.62’ higher than it was a year ago and
3.47’ below its historical average for this time of year. Reported
inflows include ~760 cfs from the Kissimmee
River. Outflows include ~330 cfs
through the S352 and ~365 cfs through the S77.
An
apple snail egg survey was initiated along the northwestern and western littoral
zones and in Fisheating
Bay during the last week
of April. Approximately 80 of a total of 128 transects have been sampled,
and 17 clutches of apple snail eggs were found on 2 adjacent transects in the
northwestern region between the Indian
Prairie Canal
and Tinhouse Cove. No clutches were found along
the western littoral zone and the remaining transects, all located in the Fisheating
Bay area, will be
completed next week. Egg surveys will continue each month through the
summer to determine the distribution of apple snails across the littoral zone
after 2 years of drought.
Bloom
sites that were reported on last week (Pahokee Marina and LZ40
in the center of the lake) were sampled again at the end of last week.
Chlorophyll and toxin data are not yet available, but the blooms at both sites
have largely dissipated.
A
wildfire continues to burn in the littoral zone near Observation Island
on the southwest side of the lake. At least 3500 acres have burned.
Arson is believed to be the cause.
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