Lake
Okeechobee Conditions Report August 26, 2008:
According
to the USACE web site,
Field crews began conducting post-Fay assessments of
water-quality, phytoplankton, and submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) Last
Friday (8/22/08). Initial reports show increased turbidity across most of
the nearshore zone and an absence of algal
blooms. Underwater light conditions for SAV growth ranged from poor (secchi depth:total
depth ratio of 0.1) to marginal (sd:td of 0.3-0.4),
with the southern shoreline having the least turbidity and the northern
shoreline having the greatest. High flows in Fisheating
Creek appear to be maintaining low turbidity across
Post-storm sampling at SAV sites surveyed just 2-3 weeks ago
indicates that the SAV community remains largely intact despite maximum
sustained winds near 60 mph along the western shoreline during the storm.
However, continued development of existing SAV beds will be slowed if deep,
turbid water conditions persist. Due to the rapid increase in water
levels, many of these beds are now at water depths of 1.0-1.5 m or
greater. However, increased lake stage has also resulted in the rehydration of shoreline areas that historically have
contained extensive SAV beds. An aerial survey conducted on Monday
indicated that water clarity in these newly flooded areas is suitable for SAV
germination and growth.
Emergent
wetland vegetation along the shoreline also remains intact. Water depths
have increased to > 1 m along the outer wall of cattail and spikerush that developed during the drought. Both of
these species are tolerant of deep-water conditions in wetlands such as the
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