The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Jacksonville District is prepared to respond to Hurricane Isaias and will continue to inform the public about any changes to operations on Lake Okeechobee, the Herbert Hoover Dike, Corps water control structures, navigation locks, recreation facilities, and post storm damage to federally authorized beaches.
Jacksonville District issued the following information about Florida operations:
Lake Okeechobee:
- The current lake stage is relatively low at 13.21 feet, and the current forecast shows a high level of confidence that the lake will not receive hurricane force winds.
- We do not plan to make pre-storm releases from Lake Okeechobee at this time, but will continue monitoring weather forecasts and notify the public if that changes.
- We will be closing Herbert Hoover Dike water release structures (S-308, S-271, S-352, S-351, S-354, and S-77) on July 31 before the storm arrives.
- Heavy rains in the basins may raise canal levels, which will require us to release basin water to the estuaries for flood protection on both the C-43 and C-44.
- After the storm, we will assess conditions and notify the public of necessary operational changes.
Boaters:
- The Corps will extend operating hours for its navigation locks on the Okeechobee Waterway beginning July 31, 2020. We plan to operate the locks from 7 a.m. - 10 p.m. through Aug. 4. The Canaveral Lock will continue its normal lock schedule of 6 a.m. - 9:30 p.m.
- For the safety of the lock operators, the Jacksonville District will suspend operations when lightning is in the area or if winds reach 35 miles per hour.
- Visit www.saj.usace.army.mil/NTN/ for updated notices to navigation on changing conditions.
Campers:
- For campers and visitors to recreation sites, Jacksonville District park rangers will monitor conditions at Corps’ campgrounds and recreation areas.
- If a county government issues an evacuation order for mobile homes or RV parks in an area where there is a Corps’ campground or recreational facility, rangers will order an evacuation of the facility and advise on shelter locations.
- Visitors should move all campers, motor homes, tents, vessels, and trailers from facilities under evacuation orders.
- Campers will receive full refunds for any cancelled reservations and should monitor https://www.recreation.gov for reopening information.
Coastal Storm Risk Management Projects:
- Jacksonville District is currently working on multiple coastal storm risk management projects on Florida beaches. Several of the federal authorized beach renourishments were recently constructed.
- We have dedicated teams of coastal engineers standing by to inspect those projects as soon as it is safe to do so.
- Inspection teams will survey the project and assess if the beach erosion warrants further investigation and potentially renourishment.
Check our website at www.saj.usace.army.mil our Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/JacksonvilleDistrict or our Twitter feed at @JaxStrong for updates.
Release no. 20-063