Webinar

Description

The Florida Water and Climate Alliance, UF Water Institute, and Geosyntec Consultants, Inc. are proud to present this free webinar that delves into the latest research and technological advancements related to Lake Okeechobee. This event will feature a series of expert presentations on critical topics related to water management, environmental monitoring, and the impacts of natural events on this vital ecosystem.

This comprehensive technical session is designed for Lake Okeechobee shareholders and stakeholders, environmental scientists, water resource managers, attorneys, academics, students, and anyone interested in the health and sustainability of this vital ecosystem.

Professional development hours will be provided by the Florida Water & Climate Alliance to colleagues who indicate a desire for PDHs in the registration. Colleagues who request PDH with their registration must attend the entire event to earn the full PDH.

Topics and Speakers

Evaporation from the Interior of Lake Okeechobee — Insights for Water Management

Evaporation rates were measured from the interior of Lake Okeechobee using the Bowen-ratio energy-budget method. From 2013 to 2016, the average annual evaporation rate was approximately 1,825 millimeters per year. This relatively large rate was primarily due to the size of the Lake forcing frequent clear-sky conditions over the Lake’s interior, which allowed solar radiation to reach the water surface and enhance open-water evaporation. 

W. Barclay Shoemaker | Research Scientist, USGS

Vegetation Mapping of Lake Okeechobee using World View Satellite Imagery and Object-Based Machine Learning Ensemble Technique

Learn about the development of an object-based machine learning ensemble approach to map vegetation communities in Lake Okeechobee using 0.5-m WorldView 2 satellite products. Map products of 2023 were generated; 2024 and 2025 map products are in progress.

Caiyun Zhang, PhD | Professor, Florida Atlantic University

Echoes from Lake Okeechobee: Predicting Suspended Sediment with Hydroacoustics

The transport of suspended sediment from Lake Okeechobee into the St. Lucie and Caloosahatchee Rivers is a critical factor in regional water quality and ecosystem health. This presentation details initial findings on the use of Acoustic Doppler Velocity Meter (AVM) backscatter data and other parameters to develop predictive models for near-real-time suspended sediment concentration.

Brett Johnston | Hydrologist, USGS

W. Scott McBride | Hydrologist, USGS

Managing the Seemingly Unmanageable: SFWMD’s Integrative Lake Okeechobee Cyano-HAB Monitoring and Mitigation Program

Lake Okeechobee is the central feature of the interconnected Kissimmee River–Lake Okeechobee–Everglades ecosystems, that underwent significant alterations over the last century. These changes have created a highly managed lake reservoir which has also been impacted by excessive sediment and nutrient inputs which resulted in large accumulation of nutrient-rich unconsolidated organic mud deposits, and a dramatic decline in water quality and expansion of HABs dominated by toxin-producing cyanobacteria. Lake Okeechobee cyano-HABs pose threats to the downstream ecosystems, as these can be transported with discharged water via numerous outflow structures, where they can proliferate under freshened conditions. Cyano-HAB management is complex and challenging in Lake Okeechobee due to the highly dynamic nature of the lake and blooms, but recent expansion of the monitoring network greatly improved the overall bloom detection and mitigation capacities.

Anna Wachnicka, PhD | Principal Scientist, South Florida Water Management District

Hurricane-Induced Storm Surge on Lake Okeechobee

This study focuses on improving storm surge forecasting for Lake Okeechobee, particularly in the context of Category III or larger hurricanes, with a case study centered on Hurricane Irma in 2017. The approach involves applying a calibrated and verified model to predict hurricane-induced storm surges, thereby facilitating readiness for future storms. In this research, the calibrated LOEM model demonstrates its effectiveness in simulating storm surge and circulation under the influence of Hurricane Irma, a Category I hurricane with extreme wind speeds of up to 63 mph. The study examines the differences in impact between a benchmark case and scenarios with increased wind speeds of 100 mph and 120 mph. The findings provide valuable insights into the potential consequences and the model's capabilities in simulating extreme events. This research represents a significant step toward improving storm surge forecasting, enhancing our understanding and prediction of hurricane impacts on Lake Okeechobee and addressing other environmental concerns

K.R. Jin, PhD | Lead Scientist, South Florida Water Management District

Moderated by:

Jeffery King, PhD, PE, CFM | Principal, Geosyntec Consultants

Contacts

Jeffery King, PhD, PE, CFM | Geosyntec Consultants

Darlene Saindon Velez | Florida Water and Climate Alliance and The UF Water Institute

Photo Credit: Cover art entitled “Torry Island Campground Horizon” is a a derivative of a photograph of Torry Island Campground near Belle Glade, Florida, on the southern side of Lake Okeechobee. Blueeagle55 took the photograph on October 15, 2018. Geosyntec Consultants, Inc. alter the original—entitled “Torry Island Campground in Lake Okeechobee”—under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International CC BY–SA 4.0 DEED license. Geosyntec Consultants alter the original by cropping the original to fit the aspect ratio of the cover of this document. The original photograph was available at https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Torry_Island_Campground.jpg  File:Torry Island Campground.jpg on July 24, 2024. Cover art entitled “Torry Island Campground Horizon” is also licensed under the same Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International CC BY–SA 4.0 DEED license, but is attributed to Geosyntec Consultants, Inc. Per CC BY–SA 4.0, this derivative use does not imply that Blueeagle55 endorses the content of this webinar.