Lake Okeechobee Conditions Report September 4, 2007:

 

According to the USACE web site, Lake Okeechobee stage is 9.55’ NGVD today, which is 0.02’ lower that it was a week ago and 0.10’ higher than it was a month ago.  The current stage is approximately 4’ below its historical average for this time of year.  Surface inflows are 1392 cfs compared with only 530 cfs last week.  These values do not include gravity inflows through the S77 (164 cfs) and S308 (not reported) structures.  No surface outflows are reported.

 

During August, 21 of the 27 water quality sampling sites had sufficient water for sampling.  TSS values averaged 8 mg/L and TP values averaged 85 ppb.  In April, the last time the same 21 sites were sampled, mean TSS was 60 mg/L and mean TP was 175 ppb.  No nearshore bloom formation was observed during a helicopter flight on August 29 that covered most of the lake shoreline.  Data from the August bloom buster survey are not yet available.

 

In the littoral zone, spikerush (Eleocharis) is germinating in scattered clumps along the west wall.  About 50-100 acres of this species have become established in < 1’ of very clear water.  This species provides habitat for fish and wildlife.   Approximately 10,000 acres of torpedograss have been treated this summer.  No regrowth was reported at six sites that were treated this year and at two sites that were treated in 2006.  Dominant vegetation at these sites included beakrush (Rhyncospora) and sedges.  One site treated in 2005 had <25% control and contained abundant torpedograss.  Two other sites had >95% control and were dominated by desirable wetland species including buttonbush (Cephalanthus), maidencane (Panicum), arrowhead (Sagittaria) and water lily (Nymphaea) as well as some upland weeds.

 


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