The same algae that cloud the water also consume oxygen over night. Most fish species can not breathe oxygen from the air and depend on oxygen dissolved in the water. Last summer oxygen levels dropped below 2 milligrams of oxygen per liter of water in shallow water areas in the Lagoon. Those low oxygen levels resulted in a large number of small scale fish kills in central Brevard and an unusual dieoff of dolphins occurred in the same area (See Mysterious Dolphin Deaths pg. 4). Winds help mix oxygen into lagoon waters, particularly near the water’s surface. Windy conditions this spring has been helping to keep levels of dissolved oxygen higher than last spring. Currently, oxygen levels are mostly in the range of 3 - 5 milligrams, which is adequate for this time of year. As a result the number of fish kills reported in the Lagoon has dropped from last year. Dolphins surface to breathe so they do not depend on oxygen in the water, but they do benefit from the greater number of fish in their fishing areas. So far this summer the frequency of dolphins dying off has also decreased from last year’s record highs.