As our drought continues in Southwest Florida, freshwater ponds are continuing to decrease in volume while tidal areas remain full.
This is clear with an examination of minimally tidal Lemon Lake in Amberjack Preserve where the water is at a high level due to low evaporative water losses this time of year. In summer the lake may even dry up leading to a massive concentration of wading birds feeding on stranded fish.
You will notice a rim of macroalgal growth around the edge of the lagoon due to high levels of nutrients running off from the land, including from Lake Okeechobee…