Lake
Okeechobee Conditions Report September 16, 2008:
According
to the USACE web site,
The
monthly submerged-aquatic-vegetation (SAV) survey was completed yesterday and
16 of the 32 sites visited had plants. Last month (pre TS Fay) 24 of the
35 sites visited had plants. Water clarity has decreased with an average secchi depth:total
depth ratio of 0.34 compared to 0.96 last month. The decrease in light
conditions along the northwestern shoreline and in
Monthly
phytoplankton monitoring was performed yesterday. For the first time in
over a year all nine sites had sufficient water for sampling. Toxin and
chlorophyll data are not yet available but minor blooms were observed at most
of the northern stations and a more significant bloom was seen in Harney Pond.
An increase in bloom formation may occur as terrestrial vegetation in the newly
inundated littoral zone die and release nutrients into the water column.
Large
areas of spikerush and cattail persist at water
depths of 1.6 to 1.7 m along the western shoreline. The lakeward edge of this vegetation is showing clear signs of
stress while plants closer to shore still appear healthy. Bulrush, an
important component of the shoreline vegetation community in the past, is
conspicuously absent.
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