The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Jacksonville District plans to maintain water discharges from Lake Okeechobee at current rates.
The target flow for the Caloosahatchee Estuary remains unchanged at a seven-day average of 2,800 cubic feet per second (cfs) as measured at W.P. Franklin Lock (S-79) near Fort Myers. The target flow for the St. Lucie Estuary will remain unchanged at a seven-day average of 650 cfs as measured at St. Lucie Lock (S-80) near Stuart. Additional runoff from rain in the Caloosahatchee or the St. Lucie basins could occasionally result in flows that exceed targets.
“We are currently seeing a slow recession in the lake as a result of dry conditions,” said Jim Jeffords, Operations Division Chief for the Jacksonville District. “However, the lake is still unseasonably high and we need to continue to bring the lake level down. We will continue to closely monitor conditions and adjust as necessary in the weeks ahead.”
Today, the lake stage is 14.66 feet, over one-tenth of a foot lower than it was last week. The Corps will continue to monitor conditions and adjust flows as necessary.
For more information on water level and flows data for Lake Okeechobee, visit the Corps’ water management website at: http://www.saj.usace.army.mil/Missions/CivilWorks/WaterManagement.aspx
.
-30-
Release no. 16-057