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UPDATE: Lake Okeechobee sediment study releases scheduled

By USACE - | Apr 20, 2021

UPDATE:

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Jacksonville District reported that it will postpone Lake Okeechobee releases planned for April 21 from the Port Mayaca Lock and Dam (S-308) to support a U.S. Geological Survey and South Florida Water Management District ongoing Lake Okeechobee sediment study. Based on the current conditions, the SFWMD asked to reschedule the study at S-308 until a later date, but the releases supporting the study at the Moore Haven Lock and Dam (S-77) went forward today as planned. To learn more about the deviation, visit https://go.usa.gov/xHKFH.

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ORIGINAL:

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Jacksonville District will execute a temporary minor deviation to the Lake Okeechobee Regulation Schedule today, April 20, and April 21 as part of the ongoing study by the South Florida Water Management District and U.S. Geological Survey to find ways to indirectly measure sediment and nutrients transported from the lake to the estuaries.

The deviation will allow up to 5,000 cubic feet per second (cfs) flow from structures for short periods of time for up to eight hours today at the Moore Haven Lock and Dam (S-77) and on April 21 at the Port Mayaca Lock and Dam (S-308).

The Army Corps executed a similar deviation in February to support the same study and expects to do so again in May. The study will help develop a better understanding of how different release schedules may influence nutrient/sediment loading to the estuaries.

While the deviation allows for up to 5,000 cfs releases in short bursts, it is expected that the flows will be closer to 500 cfs. Weather permitting, the Army Corps will attempt to draw down the St. Lucie Canal (C-44) prior to the test to minimize the potential for opening the St. Lucie Lock and Dam (S-80). There is still a possibility that the S-80 may be opened to accommodate the increased water resulting from the testing or to maintain canal levels from local runoff in the case of heavy rains in the basin. The maximum effect of these releases on Lake Okeechobee stage is less than half an inch.

“We are excited to find out what USGS and SFWMD learn from this study as they work to better understand the flow of sediment from the lake and into the estuaries,” Jacksonville District Commander Col. Andrew Kelly said. “Finding alternative methods to measure how much sediment moves from the lake into the estuaries is important as we attempt to better understand the system and its impacts on coastal communities.”

The Army Corps is aware of FDEP test results of algae found on the lake side of the S-308 that contained microcystin at 22 parts per billion, which is above the levels the Environmental Protection Agency recommends for recreational use. Every effort will be made to reduce the need to open the S-80 during the eight-hour period when water may be released from S-308. The maximum possible impact on the lake level is expected to be less than half an inch.