Hello Readers. Hope you are having a good summer!
Even though I am supposed to be on a “blogcation,” my husband, Ed, and I decided to fly over Lake Okeechobee this morning as yesterday Dr Susan Gray of the South Florida Water Management District reported on the Army Corp of Engineer Periodic Scientist Call that recent Landsat Satellite images had revealed significant algae in the middle of the lake- – – an area known as “LZ40.”
Sure enough, once Ed and I got up in the air, just a few miles west of Port Mayaca, the strings of bright green algae were visible from about 1000 feet —-looking down— up to as far as eye could see…
Very strange to be surrounded by water and bright-colored lines of algae; it resembled miles of suspended fluorescent paint. I have heard the scientists talking about how the algae comes up in the morning for sunlight and then goes back down into the water column later in the day. It is intelligent, like an animal, and knows how to hide. You have to track it….
The living bloom was quite extensive, going on for many miles. My photos do not do the color or amount justice, but do document. This is important.
Thank God the ACOE is not dumping into the St Lucie River/Indian River Lagoon this summer. Poor lake O, on the other hand, has been getting “backwards flowing” C-44 water and back-pumped water from the EAA, STAs, and WCAs. No wonder its a mess!
Thank you to the SFWMD for the heads up! We do appreciate your work. We have inherited and created “quite an animal.”
See everyone soon.
Jacqui
*STA is storm water treatment areas
* WCA is water conservation areas
SFWMD website: (https://www.sfwmd.gov)
NOTE OF INTEREST:
*Reader, Professor Geoff Norris recommends we ask NOAA to create a bulletin for Lake O like this one here for Lake Erie since basically we are “in the same boat:” I think this is a great idea. I will have to contact NOAA.
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Hi Jacqui,
Those blue-green algae streaks on the surface of Lake Okeechobee are called Languimir convection cells. Think of them as horizontal corkscrews. They are shallow wind driven clockwise horizontal vortices that concentrate the organisms on the surface when 2 vortices converge. What this means is that the lake is full of the algae but the Languimer vortices concentrate sufficient concentrations so that they are clearly visible.
Joe
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Joe thank you so much for explaining this!
Oh my what a difference 7 years can make…..I remember well how terrified you were of flying and suggesting that you count houses and try to identify neighborhoods to take your mind off it. Really happy to see that smile on your face while flying and finding a passion that helped you overcome it in your reporting. Congratulations!
Thank you Deb. You are one of the few who knows my deepest fears! IT is good to overcome!
wow! So glad you and your husband are documenting all of this. It looks like a lot to me.
Love the blog and photos, keep up the good work of informing us here on the ground what is going on over Lake O! Have you hugged your Pilot today? ❤️
🙂
Now is when the Governor should tell every County to stop fertilizing before this gets worse. We know it’s early in the rainy season and it will get worse. To continue allowing fertilizers to be applied is going to feed the lake algae bloom and we all know what happens if the lake gets higher. Good work Jacqui and Ed!
Thank you Nancy! We don’t need it here!
Hi Jacqui, Can I use one of your photos of the algae in my blog, if I give you credit, of course. Thank you, Kim
Yes. You can use anything you want at anytime. Thanks so much.
Thank you!
good work.
Thank you
This could be cleaned up and controlled very easily, naturally, quickly, and safely by using the natural mineral Magnesium Oxide and dusting the surface of the lake. Magnesium is part of the photosynthesis process that Mother Nature has created for biodegradable organics. If you would like to know more feel free to contact me.
Thank you Peyton. I hope to speak.
It is not the algie that kills. Its the bacteria that feeds on the algie that sucks all the oxygen out of the water. I hope someone remembers to keep adding calcium sand so desolved oxygen can complete the cycle.