PRESERVING PARADISE

Team tracks toxic blue-green algae bloom

T h e S a n i b e l - C a p t i v a C o n s e r v a t i o n Foundation reported that scientists at its Marine L a b o r a t o r y r e c e n t l y developed an experiment to sample a toxic bluegreen algae bloom as it moved from freshwater, t o b r a c k i s h , t o s a l i n e w a t e r s i n t h e Caloosahatchee Estuary

SCCF: Lake Okeechobee reaches 15 feet

T h e S a n i b e l - C a p t i v a C o n s e r v a t i o n F o u n d a t i o n reported that the new regulation schedule for Lake Okeechobee is not finalized yet, but the local area is already seeing a preview of what the management system could look like

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T h e r i s k o f h i g h d a m a g i n g r e l e a s e s t o t h e Caloosahatchee and St Lucie estuaries looms as tropical activity increases in the fall months,” SCCF Research and Policy Associate Leah Reidenbach said on July 26 “One tropical storm or hurricane could trigger sudden damaging releases that could contain toxic blue-green algae, which is currently covering 84% of the lake ”

The Lake Okeechobee System Operating Manual (LOSOM) is expected to be finalized in December after the completion of a biological opinion from the National Marine Fisheries Service to determine the effects of LOSOM on red tide and sea turtles For now, the U S Army Corps of Engineers is managing the lake under LORS08

The SCCF reported that LOSOM will minimize the number of days of damaging discharges to the Caloosahatchee, while also maintaining the lake at higher levels, which has been made possible with the rehabilitation of the Herbert Hoover Dike to prevent flooding in the communities surrounding the lake

Under LOSOM, flows to the Caloosahatchee will not exceed 2,000 cubic feet per second (cfs) at the Franklin Lock and Dam (S-79) until the lake is over 16-17 feet, depending on the time of the year As of July 26, the lake was at 15 feet, and the Corps schedule was for a seven-day average pulse release of 2,000 cfs at S-79, while LORS08 calls for “up to 3,000 cfs” at S-79

“The lack of larger releases during the dry season, when we were contending with red tide, has led us to the ecologically damaging situation we are in now with high lake levels in the wet season,” she said “High lake levels are damaging to the lake's submerged aquatic vegetation, which provides important h a b i t a t f o r y o u n g - o f - t h e - y e a r a n d j u v e n i l e b a s s Multiple years of high lake levels can have devastating effects on the bass fishery ”

The SCCF reported that once submerged aquatic vegetation and emergent plants are damaged, it can take several years for them to recover, but only if lake levels remain low for extended periods of time

Additionally, higher releases in the late summer could coincide with oyster spawning season and have negative effects on oyster survival due to the combi-

See LAKE OKEECHOBEE, page 13

Along with partners from the University of F l o r i d a a n d S o u t h F l o r i d a W a t e r M a n a g e m e n t D i s t r i c t , the team targeted a visible blue-green algae bloom that had formed near Fort Myers on about July 17

Water samples revealed the bloom as the toxic species Microcystis aeruginosa, which is known to form in nutrient-rich freshwater. It was predicted to move downstream toward the Shell Point Retirement Community over a one- to two-week period based on regional bloom transport models previously developed by researchers on the team

“The bloom likely formed due to warmer temperatures and freshwater conditions typical this time of year,” Marine Lab Director Dr Eric Milbrandt said

Additional water samples on July 20 and 24 confirmed that the bloom was at or near where it was projected to be Samples were also taken to a microscopy lab at UF to determine patterns in the shapes of the colonies as the bloom progressed downstream

“Our goal is to understand how the progression of the bloom impacts water conditions in the estuary over time through the production of toxins and release of toxins and nutrients into the water column,” he said

The Marine Lab and UF have been sampling microscopic algae in the Caloosahatchee since 2018 On the first week of every month, they collect water samples from Lake Okeechobee, the Caloosahatchee from the Franklin Lock to Shell Point, and the Gulf of Mexico

“Our results are identifying the drivers of seasonal phytoplankton blooms throughout the system,” Milbrandt said

CROW announces new Animal Ambassadors

The Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife on Sanibel welcomed two new Animal Ambassadors last week Eastern screech owls Wallace and Gromit were admitted to CROW after sustaining injuries that deemed them as nonreleasable Wallace was admitted as a nestling after falling from the nest, causing head trauma and inflammation around the brain. Despite treatment, the injury to the brain resulted in permanent deficits, which prevent survival in the wild Gromit was admitted after being found on the side of the road with wounds on both feet His wounds were so severe that some of his toes had to be surgically amputated, which prevents successful hunting in the wild Both received approved federal permitting from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. CROW reported that they will receive training and care from its certified wildlife rehabilitators and will be used for educational purposes It added that Wallace and Gromit have been bonding well with their trainers and are becoming more comfortable in their new outdoor and indoor enclosures As a bonded pair, they will continue to be raised together

SCCF attends Everglades restoration ribbon cutting

Project

The project is a component of the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP), a mission working to restore water quality to the Everglades watershed across South Florida The U S Army Corps of Engineers and SFWMD have overseen the project's implementation while collaborating with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, land owner ALJO Groves and the Florida Legislature, which funded the project

The project will hold 20,000 acre-feet of water from the project area for storage and treatment

“The system works using a Rapid Infiltration Basin to allow water to pass into an aquifer, purifying the water before it enters the local surface waters From this, an estimated 1 2 metric tons of phosphorus and 39-plus metric tons of nitrogen can be removed from the water per year,” SCCF Environmental Policy intern Katie Gretter said “Removal of these nutrients is critical in improving water quality and reducing the effects of harmful algal blooms.”

Throughout the event, speakers echoed the importance

SANIBEL-CAPTIVA CONSERVATION FOUNDATION

of the collaboration

that led to the project's formation

Primarily, it highlighted an example of private and public interests working together o c t s c o m e online, we will begin to see incremental progress being m

DePaolis said “Every drop of water captured, stored, treated is one less drop of polluted water that is impacting our coastal environments ”

Lake Okeechobee

nation of high temperatures and low salinity

“The El Niño forecast is expected to b r i n g h i g h e r - t h a n - a v e r a g e r a i n f a l l i n Florida for the rest of the year and into next year's dry season, meaning high lake levels might be expected for at least

From page 12 a n o t h e r y e a r , ” R e i d e n b a c h s a i d “ W e encourage the U S Army Corps to prioritize utilizing all available outlets, when safe and possible to do so, to reduce lake levels ”

“While LOSOM will not eliminate d a m a g i n g d i s c h a r g e s t o t h e

REFUGE/DDWS

Architectural rendering of The Roost at the J N “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge.

Ribbon-cutting set for refuge’s The Roost

The “Ding” Darling Wildlife Society-Friends of the Refuge reported that as Hurricane Ian hit on Sept 28, the building of The Roost pavilion was well underway at the J N “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge on Sanibel The storm set back its completion by a year The $1 million project will serve as an outdoor classroom for visiting schools and other groups. The DDWS envisions creative new uses for it to reflect the refuge's arts legacy and experiential mission, including music and artist events, puppet shows, lectures, mindfulness classes and culturedriven programs As a kickoff to the inaugural Art in the Wild, the DDWS and SanCap Chamber will host a ribbon-cutting for the facility on Oct 21 at 9 a m Local officials, refuge staff and volunteers, and distinguished artists will be present for the event

Caloosahatchee estuary, it will greatly reduce the number of days that we are receiving those discharges. The plan isn't perfect, but it represents an improvement over the current system, with a more equitable distribution of the benefits and burdens of the water,” SCCF Environmental

Policy Director Matt DePaolis added “ O n c e a d d i t i o n a l C o m p r e h e n s i v e Everglades Restoration Projects projects come online, like the EAA reservoir, we will see compounding benefits to our e n v i r o n m e n t , o u r e c o n o m y , a n d o u r ecosystems across Southwest Florida ”