The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Jacksonville District continues to implement a transition plan to step down water releases from Lake Okeechobee.
“We are in the second week of our transition plan, which reduces flows to the Caloosahatchee and brings water releases at the St. Lucie down to zero. By next week, we will be at low flow levels for the dry season under the Lake Okeechobee Regulation Schedule,” said Lt. Col. Jennifer Reynolds, Jacksonville District Deputy Commander for South Florida.
Starting Friday, Dec. 29, the Corps will continue the transition plan to reduce flows from Lake Okeechobee by implementing 7-day pulse releases with an average target flow for the Caloosahatchee Estuary of 1,500 cubic feet per second (cfs) as measured at W.P. Franklin Lock & Dam (S-79) near Fort Myers, and 0 cfs for the St. Lucie Estuary as measured at St. Lucie Lock & Dam (S-80) near Stuart.
On Friday, Jan. 5, flows will be further reduced down to the dry season weekly average target flows of 650 cubic feet per second for the Caloosahatchee Estuary, and 0 cfs for the St. Lucie Estuary.
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3-week Transition Plan: 7-Day Average Flow Targets for Pulse Releases
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Date
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W.P. Franklin Lock & Dam (S-79)
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St. Lucie Lock & Dam (S-80)
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Dec. 22
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2,000
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500
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Dec. 29
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1,500
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0
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Jan. 5
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650
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0
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Today, the lake stage is 15.56 feet, down 0.13 feet since last week.
“Drier weather conditions have made it possible for us to reduce water releases from the lake, and current forecasts indicate that this trend will continue,” said Reynolds.
The Corps will continue to monitor conditions and adjust flows as necessary. For more information on water level and flows data for Lake Okeechobee and other parts of south Florida, visit the Corps’ water management website at http://www.saj.usace.army.mil/Missions/CivilWorks/WaterManagement.aspx.
Release no. 17-081