Lake Okeechobee Conditions Report November 3, 2009
According to the USACE web site, Lake Okeechobee stage is
14.04’ NGVD for the period ending at midnight November 02, 2009, which is
0.10' lower than a week ago, 0.44’ lower than a month ago, and
0.71’ lower than a year ago.
The current stage is 0.99’ below the historical average for this
date and 0.08’ above the simulated average using the current regulation
schedule (LORS2008). Total reported
inflows are 352 cfs and include flows through S65E (356 cfs)and
Fisheating Creek (14 cfs). According to Raindar there
was negligible rain directly over the lake this past week. Lake outflows total
688 cfs, including S77 (297 cfs), S354 (145 cfs) and S351 (246 cfs). S308 and
the L8 at Canal Point are not reporting.
Current total coverage of floating aquatic vegetation on the
lake is estimated at 4000 acres. One thousand acres of floating vegetation was
treated in Fish Eating Bay last week from Mayaca Cut
to Observation Island. Treatment of approximately 2000 additional acres is
planned. District crews flying the lake last week reported seeing large flocks
of wading birds foraging in shallow areas in the Northwest marsh that have been
cleared as a result of the torpedo grass control program.
FWC
reports seeing exceptional Chironomid blooms on the
lake. Chironomids are an important food source
for juvenile fish and other aquatic organisms and are key indicators of
improved lake conditions. Their abundance has been limited over the past
several years. FWC is also reported good young of the year numbers for
Largemouth bass (a single transect in Fish Eating Bay yielded more fish than
the entire lakewide electrofishing
study in 2008).
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