The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Jacksonville District will implement a transition plan to step down water releases from Lake Okeechobee over the next three weeks.
“In close coordination with scientists and stakeholders, we will transition flows over a three-week period to the base flows that can be expected 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. 22), the Corps will begin 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 2,000 cubic feet per second (cfs) as measured at W.P. Franklin Lock & Dam (S-79) near Fort Myers, and 500 cfs for the St. Lucie Estuary as measured at St. Lucie Lock & Dam (S-80) near Stuart.
The following Friday, Dec. 29, flows will be stepped-down again, with average target flows reduced to 1,500 cubic feet per second (cfs) for the Caloosahatchee Estuary and 0 cfs for the St. Lucie Estuary.
Starting Jan. 5, flows will be further reduced down to the dry season 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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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 15.69 feet, down 0.11 feet since last week.
“We commend our stakeholders and partner agencies for the input and collaboration that has allowed us to collectively respond to this very challenging wet season,” 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. 17-078