SCCF Documents Decrease in Salinity Due to Lake O Discharges

Researchers from Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation's Marine Laboratory collected samples surrounding the Chiquita Lock on Feb. 28 as part of an ongoing monthly survey monitoring the quality of the water coming from Cape Coral’s canal system.

The sampling was done 11 days after the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers started making damaging releases to the Caloosahatchee River from Lake Okeechobee.

“We noticed there was already an effect on the lower estuary where the Chiquita Lock is located,” said Research Associate Leah Reidenbach. “The salinity was significantly lower than it had been during the previous four months of sampling which is unusual during the dry season.”

Researchers also observed that the salinity in the river was lower than in the canals.

“Usually, the canals are a freshwater source to the lower estuary, as the water mainly comes from runoff whereas the Caloosahatchee estuary experiences tidal inflows of saltwater,” said Reidenbach.

SCCF has been monitoring the damaging releases from Lake Okeechobee, which began on Feb. 17.