Martin County Board of County Commissioners

Water Conditions Update

Tuesday, July 12 at 2:30 p.m.

County Commission Chambers

2401 SE Monterey Road

Current Conditions

• Lake Okeechobee at 14.78 feet • (1 week ago = 14.95 feet; 1 year ago = 12.09 feet

• Inflows to the Lake= ~1929 cubic feet/second • Outflows from the Lake=~4758 cubic feet/second • Current inflows to St. Lucie from the Lake

averaging 1170 cubic feet / second weekly • Bottom salinities at the Roosevelt Bridge

averaging ~5 ppt; only getting peaks of 8 ppt during high tides

• Up to 14 ppt when no flows from Lake • Temperatures ranging from 89-91 degrees (F)

SFWMD Survey July 7, 2016

• Sampled algae levels in the navigation channel

• Along transect running from the St. Lucie Inlet to the North Fork Narrows and up the South Fork to the St. Lucie Locks

• Also sampled C-44 from St Lucie Locks to Port Mayaca Locks

• Sampled water (0.5 meter depth) continuously with a YSI data sonde using a flow through system

St. Lucie Estuary

Water Quality Mapping on July 7, 2016

Algal Levels in the St. Lucie Estuary

Lake Okeechobee Algae Bloom (7/10/16)

7/8/16

Port Mayaca – S-308

North Fork canals / dead end canal basin 7/8/16

U.S. 1 area / Central Marine

7/8/16

Middle Estuary north shore 7/8/16

Rio / Outboards Only

7/8/16

A1A Bridge –Lower Estuary North Shore 7/8/16

County Administration Building

Hell’s Gate

7/8/16

St. Lucie Inlet 7/8/16

Air Quality Testing • Martin County contracted for air quality testing

• 4 sites (2 residential in Rio and North River Shores; 2 commercial at Outboards Only and Central Marine)

• Tested for hydrogen sulfide, species of algae, toxin levels present, and respirable particles (whether algae could be inhaled)

• Took water quality sample at each site (algae species and toxin levels)

• Data analysis and draft report not expected for a least a week and a half

• Preliminary raw data will be shared as it is available and reliable

BGA Remediation Technology Assessment

• Florida Department of Environmental Protection is the lead agency

• Technical review team being convened (Martin County represented)

• Current demonstration project occurring

• FDEP focused on additional demonstration for mechanical removal

Links to Information • www.martin.fl.us

• Beach Conditions Hotline: 772-320-3112 updated daily

• Search for Speak Up for the St. Lucie • Facebook Page: “Speak Up for the St. Lucie”

• www.martin.floridahealth.gov • Bright yellow tab at top of page for blue green algae

information

• www.dep.state.fl.us • “Algal Blooms” button on right of page • South Florida algal bloom sampling results

• www.saj.usace.army.mil • Lake Okeechobee button on right of page • “Current Conditions” and “Daily Reports”