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Weather Stations Update

Originally deployed in 2012, thanks to funding from the West Coast Inland Navigation District (WCIND) through a grant from Lee County, the RECON weather stations became the first weather stations in this area located directly over the water. Designed to give researchers and boaters near real-time information on the current over water weather conditions, they quickly became the go to weather source for the local boating community. ...

The River, Estuary and Coastal Observing Network (RECON) is a network of water quality sensors deployed throughout the Caloosahatchee river and estuary to provide real-time, water quality data to scientists, policy makers, and the general public.

The extensive watersheds of the Caloosahatchee (1,400 square miles) and Lake Okeechobee (4,400 square miles) each contribute water that flows into the Caloosahatchee estuary and the Gulf of Mexico. Water quality is affected by both Lake Okeechobee discharges and runoff from the Caloosahatchee watershed. Over time, these watersheds have changed from low-nutrient loading marshes and wetlands to high loading urban and agricultural land uses. Nutrients increase turbidity and decrease concentrations of dissolved oxygen (DO). In addition, excess nutrients fuel nuisance algal blooms. Losses of low-nutrient adapted communities, such as seagrasses have contributed to changes in fish, crustacean and marine mammal communities.

Real-time Data

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Map View

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Boater Forecast

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Imperial Metric

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McIntyre Creek
4.92^ft

Tarpon Bay
4.95^ft

Gulf of Mexico
6.89^ft

Shell Point
7.35^ft

Fort Myers
6.73^ft

Beautiful Island
4.2^ft

Alva
2.03^ft

Moore Haven
1.77^ft

Description

Depth reported by SCCF RECON is the depth of the water above the sensor. This changes as a result of the tides. The sensor is suspended off of the bottom so as the tides go up and down the amount of water above the sensor changes.

In Southwest Florida we experience mixed tides. These consist typically of two high and two low tides of different heights each tidal day (24 hours 50 minutes). Twice monthly the sun, moon, and earth are in line. On one occasion the moon is between the sun and the earth and on another occasion the earth is between the sun and moon. During these alignments the tide-producing forces of the sun and the moon are additive and the range of tides is the highest of the month. This means the high tides ascend higher and the low tides recede lower than any other time of the month. These tides are called spring tides, though they have nothing to do with the season of the year. When the sun and moon are at right angles with the earth neap tides are formed. These tides also occur twice a month and produce the lowest tidal range of the month.