JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Jacksonville District, with the announcement of the onset of the wet season, will conclude Recovery Operations, but maintain current release targets from Lake Okeechobee.
Current weather condition predictions are favorable for reaching successful metrics within Recovery Operations. Consistent with the Lake Okeechobee System Operating Manual (LOSOM), Recovery Operations were implemented in December 2024 to lower water levels and allow lake ecology to recover. New plant growth, reduced turbidity, and reduced nutrients in the water column are already being observed. Recovery Operations allowed increased releases out of the lake during the dry season, but operational constraints have reverted back to normal LOSOM operations. The lake is within Zone D and the current target flows are within those allowable limits.
Lower lake levels have been creating hydraulic capacity challenges in the C-43 to achieve the target 500 cfs at S-79. While 500 cfs is the target at S-79, it does not guarantee flows will not exceed or fall below the threshold of the target due to local basin runoff or capacity constraints.
On May 28 and 29th spillway gates at S-77 will be closed to facilitate a South Florida Water Management District led study. This may temporarily cause lower water levels in the C-43 and decreased flows to S-79.
During the challenging drought conditions on the Caloosahatchee River, the USACE is doing everything possible within the current structural constraints to maximize flows west to achieve the 500 cfs. In an effort to increase flows out of the lake USACE may lower the upper pool of the C-43 (between S-77 and S-78) below its optimal level. This will increase the capacity to get water out of S-77, but may cause some navigation challenges. Boaters are encouraged to check water levels prior to making plans at: https://w3.saj.usace.army.mil/h2o/currentLL.shtml)
-30-
Release no. 25-033