RECOVER MAP 3.4.4.3 Lake Okeechobee Fish and Wildlife relationships to Plant Community Structure and Habitat

CERP projects are expected to substantially improve both the hydroperiod of the westernlittoral zone in Lake Okeechobee and the inputs of phosphorus and other chemical constituents to the ecosystem. These changes are anticipated to benefit the submerged and emergent plant communities in the littoral zone and consequently the invertebrates and forage fish that support the lake's fish and wildlife (e.g., sport fish, wading birds, snail kites, etc.) The intent of this project is to establish sufficient quantitative information on relationships between sport fish and other wildlife with vegetation type or water depth to make solid projections of CERP benefits. The ability to make those projections will be critical for optimization of the lake regulation schedule under the CERP.
This effort will characterize the abundance and distribution of fish and macroinvertebrates, with regard to vegetation type, density, seasonality and water column depth, in two emergent and three submersed plant communities along the pelagic-littoral interface zone of Lake Okeechobee. This Lake Okeechobee ecological study will include biannual sampling for:

• Fish (Only one sampling event per year)
• Macroinvertebrates
• Plants
• Amphibian and Reptiles (Samples in 2 emergent habitats)

Sampling locations will be identified in 3 regions of Lake Okeechobee and consist of quantitative replicate (3) samples being taken from 5 habitats. The abundance and distribution of fish (including juvenile sport fish), macroinvertebrates, amphibians and reptiles (herps) will be characterized with regard to vegetation type, density, seasonality and water column depth. Sampling events will occur annually for fish (August/September) and bi-annually (February/March and August/September) for macroinvertebrates, plants, amphibians and reptiles. In the startup year (2006) there will be only one sampling event in August September time frame which will include all sampling parameters. The abundance and distribution of fish and macroinvertebrate assemblages will be sampled in two emergent (bulrush, and cattail) habitats and three submersed (Hydrilla, Vallisneria and Potamogeton) habitats. The vegetative community structure will also be sampled in all five habitats to assess recovery and ecological significance to fish and wildlife. The abundance and distribution of herps will be sampled only in emergent habitats.
Ancillary water quality data from the top and bottom of the water column, including time of day, water temperature, dissolved oxygen, pH, specific conductance, turbidity, Secchi depth, PAR, water depth, wind speed and direction will be recorded at each sample location.