Estuarine Conditions as of July 31, 2007

 

St. Lucie Estuary

 

Current Conditions:

 

No releases occurred at S-80 over the past week.     At the Roosevelt Bridge salinity averaged 13.0 ppt on the surface and 13.8 ppt on the bottom.  Corresponding values further downstream at the A1A Bridge are 20.1 ppt and 25.3 ppt.  Salinities at both sites are within the preferred range (8-25 ppt for the Roosevelt Bridge and 20-31 ppt for the A1A Bridge).    In the North Fork at the Harbor Ridge station, salinity averaged 7.9 ppt on the surface and 13.9 ppt on the bottom.  In the South Fork, at the Palm City Bridge, corresponding values were 6.8 ppt and 8.8 ppt.  Salinity conditions are good (see attached).

 

Caloosahatchee Estuary

 

Current Conditions:

 

The estimated weekly average discharge at S-79 was about 370 cfs.  Chloride concentration at the Olga Plant is presently 88 mg/l.  Average surface salinity did not change appreciably in the upper estuary, with surface salinity ranging from 6.3 ppt at S-79 to 13.2 ppt at Ft. Myers. Bottom salinities ranged from 6.6 ppt at S-79 to 16.0 ppt at Ft. Myers.  Salinity at Shell Point declined again this week averaging 28.6 ppt on the surface and 33.4 ppt on the bottom.   Salinity remains high in the upper estuary.  In the lower estuary and San Carlos Bay salinity conditions are good (see attached).

 

 

FWRI reports that no Karenia brevis, the Florida red tide organism, was detected this week in water samples collected alongshore between Pinellas and Collier counties. Discolored water due to a bloom of the non-toxic cyanobacteria, Trichodesmium, remains possible in portions of Charlotte, Lee (including San Carlos Bay) and Collier counties.

 

To view reports and graphs on line go to:

https://my.sfwmd.gov/portal/page?_pageid=1314,2554645,1314_19738269:1314_19738234&_dad=portal&_schema=PORTAL

 

 


 

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