Lake Okeechobee Conditions Report
July 22, 2008:
According
to the USACE web site, Lake Okeechobee stage
is 10.39’ NGVD, which is 0.35’ higher than a week ago, 1.11’
higher than a month ago, and 1.34’ higher than it was a year ago.
The current stage is 3.38’ below the historical average for this date,
and 2.17’ below the simulated historical average for the current
regulation schedule (LORS2008). Total reported inflows are 5229 cfs, including substantial flows from the Kissimmee
River (2115 cfs), S71 (1973 cfs), S72 (181 cfs), and the L8
at canal point (645 cfs), and lesser volumes through
the S84 (147 cfs), S191 (100 cfs),
and S154 (68 cfs). No outflows are reported and
flows through S77 and S308 are not available.
Monthly
phytoplankton monitoring was performed on July 17. Six of nine sites
had sufficient water for sampling. Mean secchi
depth was 0.59 m (compared to 0.43 m in June). Chlorophyll and toxin
data are not yet available, but bloom conditions were not observed at any of
the stations.
The
South American watergrass Luziola
subintegra continues to pose an environmental
threat in Fisheating
Bay. A dense
monoculture of this species is estimated to cover 110 acres with considerable
infiltration beyond this central stand. Treatment by helicopter and boat
is planned for this week using a mixture of the herbicides imazapyr
and glyphosate, which has been the most effective
combination used to date.
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