MEMORANDUM

To: USACE Colonel Jason A. Kirk, LTC Jennifer A. Reynolds, Richard McMillen, Kim Taplin, SFWMD Governing Board, Executive Director Peter Antonacci, Terrie Bates, Susan Gray, Peter Doering, DEP Secretary Jon Steverson

From: Periodic Scientists Conference Call Participants Paul Tritaik - J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) Complex James Evans & Holly Milbrandt - City of Sanibel Keith Kibbey & Lesli Haynes - Lee County Rae Blake – Town of Fort Myers Beach Connie Jarvis & Harry Phillips – City of Cape Coral Rae Ann Wessel & Rick Bartleson, Ph.D.-Sanibel Captiva Conservation Foundation

Subject: Caloosahatchee & Estuary Condition Report Reporting Period: November 29 - December 5, 2016

This report provides a scientific assessment of Caloosahatchee River and Estuary conditions and how these conditions affect the health, productivity and function of the system. Caloosahatchee Condition Summary: Discharges into the estuary at S-79 during the past week decreased to a weekly average of 651 cfs. Lake Okeechobee discharges to the river, measured at S-77, increased to an average of 882 cfs. Salinities have risen rapidly in the upper and middle estuary. Red tide persists in coastal waters. USACE Action: The USACE continued flows to the Caloosahatchee to a 7-day average pulse of 650 cfs at S-79 and continued no discharge from Lake Okeechobee to the St Lucie estuary at S-80. Recommendation: Due to rapidly rising salinities at Fort Myers we recommend increasing pulse releases to provide healthy salinities below 10 psu at Fort Myers and below 5 psu at Beautiful Island and to maintain a low salinity zone in the upper estuary. We request a Periodic Scientist call be scheduled next week to discuss rapidly rising salinities.

Lake Okeechobee Level: 14.68 ft. (Low Sub-Band) Last week: 14. 79 ft.

Lake Okeechobee Inflow: 683 cfs Lake Okeechobee Outflow: 2,749 cfs Weekly Rainfall: WP Franklin 0.08" Ortona 0.16 ” Moore Haven 0.09" Salinity Beautiful Island: 4.2 - 7.0 psu (SCCF RECON Marker 18) Previous wk 2.2 - 7.0 psu

Salinity Fort Myers: 7.3 – 12 psu (SCCF Yacht Basin) Previous wk 5.6 - 11 psu Salinity Shell Point: 19 – 32 psu (SCCF RECON) Previous wk 18 - 31 psu

Salinity (psu) Current

Value

Sustainable

Range

High/

Low

Beautiful Is 4.2 - 7.0 < 5 psu In

Range

Fort Myers 7.3 – 12 <10 psu In

Range

Shell Point 19 – 32 25 - 32 psu In

Range

Light (25% Iz depth meters)

Tarpon Bay 1.77 2.2 meters Low

Causeway 2.26 2.2 meters In

Range

Sanibel E 2.37 2.2 meters In

Range

Caloosahatchee Estuary Page 2 of 3

Flow & Water Quality: Flows to the Caloosahatchee Estuary at S-79 during the past seven days averaged 651 cfs. Over the past 14 days 30% of Lake Okeechobee outflow was directed to the Caloosahatchee at S-77, 2.5% was delivered to the St Lucie at S-308, 61% was delivered south to the EAA, 5.5% was directed to the L8 and 1% was delivered thru S-310.

11/25/2016 1 900 741 405 842

11/26/2016 2 1000 947 501 852

11/27/2016 3 900 854 609 1078

11/28/2016 4 750 709 560 939

11/29/2016 5 400 421 271 639

11/30/2016 6 300 256 174 592

12/1/2016 7 300 234 172 617

7 day avg 650 595 385 794

Upstream of S-79/Franklin Conditions: On 11/29/16 the Olga Water Treatment plant chlorides measured 52 mg/L, apparent color was 101 CU and turbidity measured 2.44 NTU. No visible algae was noted at the plant intake for the last week. The plant is online at 2000 GPM. Upper Estuary Conditions: Salinities are in the suitable range for tape grass down to Fort Myers. The Beautiful Island RECON has been recording a phytoplankton bloom of over 20 µg chlorophyll/L. Lower Estuary Condition: The average salinity at Shell Point was (27 psu); in the optimal range for oysters. J.N. “Ding” Darling NWR:

Monitor Site Salinity (psu) Diss O2 (mg/L) FDOM (qsde) Chlorophyll (µg/L)

McIntyre Creek 29.4 – 31.7 2.5 – 9.1 14.0 – 21.6 2.4 – 69.0

Tarpon Bay 30.2 – 33.9 5.0 – 7.6 9.2 – 23.6 3.2 – 7.0

Beach Conditions: Water clarity continues to improve. Red drift algae strandings continue on Sanibel and Fort Myers beaches, with accumulations on the beach and in the surf zone. Abundance and frequency appears to be increasing as water clarity improves following 9.5 months of excess flows and associated nutrient loading. Red Tide: On 12/2/16, FWC reported Karenia brevis, the Florida red tide organism, persists in Southwest Florida from southern Pinellas to Lee County, with patches observed in Collier and northern Monroe counties. SCCF sampling on 12/5/16 found Karenia sp. concentrations of over 100,000 cells/L in Tarpon Bay and San Carlos Bay, and <100,000 cells/L at Sanibel Boat Ramp and Tarpon Beach. Manatees: Lee County Park staff reported up to 15 manatees congregating in the Orange River and FPL discharge canal the past week.

ACOE November 25 Release at S-79

Date

Day

Pulse Target

S79 Flow (cfs)

S78 Flow (cfs)

S77 Flow (cfs)

ACOE Daily Reports

Date Day S79 Flow (cfs)

S78 Flow (cfs)

S77 Flow (cfs)

11/29/2016 Tues 421 271 639

11/30/2016 Wed 256 174 592

12/1/2016 Thur 234 172 617

12/2/2016 Fri 760 494 1026

12/3/2016 Sat 1042 766 1184

12/4/2016 Sun 967 817 1172

12/5/2016 Mon 876 569 941

7 day Avg 651 466 882

11/3/2016

Caloosahatchee Stations

Chlorophyll (µg/L)

fDOM (qse)

Turbidity (NTU)

25% Io depth

(meters)

Target Values < 11 CE <70

SCB <11 CE < 18 SCB < 5

CE = 1 m SCB = 2.2m

Tarpon Bay 8.7 34.1 1.5 1.77

Causeway 2.9 21.8 0.9 2.26

Sanibel E 1.4 9.6 1.9 2.37

Target light penetration: CE- Caloosahatchee Estuary =1 m

SCB-San Carlos Bay = 2.2 meters

Definition of 25% Iz: z where I is 25% of surface I. I = irradiance, z= depth

SCCF Surface Salinity at Fort Myers Yacht Basin

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

Salin

ity (

psu

)

Salinity

30dMFL

1dMFL

30dMA

Caloosahatchee Estuary Page 3 of 3

Drift algae accumulating on the beaches and in the wash zone from the north end to mid island of Fort Myers Beach 12/1-6/16. Photos Town of Fort Myers Beach. Note an accumulation of sea hares in the wrack line. Below: Fort Myers Beach near Red Coconut RV Park. Photo 12/6/16.

Aerial photo of Sanibel Lighthouse and east end beaches on 12/5/16. Clearer water and small

accumulations of algae. Photo Jim Szabo