Corps releases water to Caloosahatchee River

Published May 15, 2012

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. (May 15, 2012) – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Jacksonville District has announced it has begun releasing water from Lake Okeechobee to the Caloosahatchee River to ease growing concerns about algal blooms.

 

The water release began this morning (May 15) with a target flow to the Caloosahatchee of 2,000 cubic feet per second (cfs) over a three-day period as measured at W.P. Franklin Lock and Dam (S-79) east of Fort Myers. The purpose of the release is to reduce the likelihood of algal blooms in the Caloosahatchee, an issue which has concerned water managers and health officials during the drought.

 

This is the second release the Corps has conducted in the past month related to reduce the likelihood of algal blooms. The Corps conducted a similar release April 23-27.

 

Today, the lake stage is 11.56 feet. The lake is currently within the Beneficial Use Sub-Band of the 2008 Lake Okeechobee Regulation Schedule (LORS), where releases are done after consultation with stakeholder partners to include the South Florida Water Management District.


Contact
John Campbell
904-232-1004
john.h.campbell@usace.army.mil

Release no. 12-040