Charlotte Harbor National Estuary Program

Quarterly Environmental Monitoring Summary

December 23, 2003

Through the last quarter, all waterbodies appeared in good shape except the Tidal Caloosahatchee. It problems included extreme water flows, elevated levels of nitrogen, and fish lesions.

Water Flows:

Peace River Basin

Normal

Myakka River

Normal

Caloosahatchee

Extreme high and low flows

Water flows are within expected limits for October through December for the Peace and Myakka. The Tidal Caloosahatchee is received either too much or too little flow for the period.

Water Quality:

Charlotte Harbor

CHEC Site being updated

Peace

CHEC Site being updated

Myakka

CHEC Site being updated

Caloosahatchee

Nitrogen enriched; all standards met

Estero basin

All standards met

The Caloosahatchee has nitrogen enrichment; however, all state standards are met.

Habitat:

Red Tide

Not present to very low throughout

Fish Kills

2 per month (low)

Fish Lesions

Several in Caloosahatchee Aug, Sept and October

Other kills

Turtle in October off of Sanibel

Shellfishing

Conditionally Open in Western Pine Island Sound, Gasparilla Sound, and Lemon Bay.

Closed for season in East Pine Island Sound and Myakka River.

Seagrasses

Stable totals of seagrass in Charlotte Harbor and Lemon Bay. (Undated map from August SFWMD conditions report indicates seagrass increases in Caloosahatchee)

Fish lesions were a consistent problem in the Tidal Caloosahatchee and its sister river on the east Coast, the St. Lucie River. Both rivers had the most consistent problem with fish lesions within the last quarter or so within the state. Release of water from Lake Okeechobee to tidewater (estuaries) goes to these two rivers.