Army Corps to increase Lake Okeechobee releases
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Jacksonville District reported that it would increase Lake Okeechobee releases at the W.P. Franklin Lock and Dam (S-79) from the current 1,000 cubic feet per second (cfs) to 2,000 cfs beginning on April 24.
The increase is intended to help restart the lake recession following heavy rains that caused the lake to rise by 0.02 feet in the prior seven days. No lake releases are planned from the St. Lucie Lock and Dam (S-80). Local runoff in either estuary may cause higher flows than the targets as operators release water to manage canal levels. As of April 22, the lake elevation was 14.25 feet, which is 0.03 feet higher than the prior week and 2.85 feet higher than last year on the same date.
With the wet season around the corner, it is ideal to lower water levels a bit more. At this time, the Army Corps will increase flows to the west but not the east for the following reasons:
– The 2,000 cfs target at S-79 is still within the ecological envelope recommended by the RECOVER (REestoration COordination and VERification) group for dry season flows to the Caloosahatchee and within the regulation schedule guidance.
– An April 19 sample from the lakeside of the Port Mayaca Lock and Dam (S-308) showed visible algae and microcystin levels of 120 parts per billion, significantly higher than the Environmental Protection Agency recommendation for recreation of 8 ppb.
“We are very concerned about the level of the lake as we near the beginning of the rainy season, and the long-range weather forecasts are painting a potentially rainy seasonal outlook,” Jacksonville District Commander Col. Andrew Kelly said. “While we need to get water out of the lake to prepare for the upcoming tropical weather season, May is one of the most challenging times to predict and may require us to adjust operations regularly as conditions change.”
As of April 22, satellite photos of the lake indicated a low likelihood of large harmful algal blooms, but as the Florida Department of Environmental Protection test showed, even small patches of algae can develop microcystin.
The Army Corps will continue to post warning signs at its structures and facilities as directed by county health departments, and will continue to work with its partners at FDEP to monitor algal blooms for signs of microcystin and with partners at the South Florida Water Management District to find alternatives to releasing water when HABs are present.