Lake Okeechobee Conditions Report October 16, 2007:

 

According to the USACE web site, Lake Okeechobee stage is 10.08’ NGVD, which is 0.03’ lower than a week ago and 0.47’ higher than a month ago.  The current stage is 2.99’ lower than it was a year ago and remains 5’ below its historical average for this time of year.  Discharges of 997 cfs through the S65E structure account for all reported inflows to the lake.  Periodic gravity inflows also may be occurring through the S77 and S308 structures.  No surface outflows are reported.

 

During September, water-quality samples were collected from 20 of 27 sampling sites.  TP concentrations lakewide averaged 77 ppb compared to 85 ppb in August.  However, TP concentrations in nearshore areas across the southern and western sides of the lake averaged only 33 ppb, with concentrations as low as 11 ppb at some sites.  Water clarity in nearshore areas continues to be excellent as well.

 

Efforts are ongoing to assess the feasibility of reintroducing apple snails to the lake’s littoral zone following reflooding.  This species, which is the exclusive food source for the endangered snail kite, is especially sensitive to drought conditions and may be unable to recover quickly by natural means.  During October, approximately 400 apple snail eggs were transported from Lake Kissimmee to a facility at Harbor Branch where they will be used to compare alternative methods for mass-rearing snails in a hatchery environment.

 


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