Congressman vows to fight water discharges
No plans to release water east into St. Lucie river at this time Share Updated: 6:06 PM EDT May 14, 2021
No plans to release water east into St. Lucie river at this time Share Updated: 6:06 PM EDT May 14, 2021
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Show Transcript THE ISSUE ADMIT, THIS IS A BALANCING ACT, BUT THE HOPE RIGHT N IOWS TO FINALLY NOT TO SEE ANY MORE TOXIC ALGAE BLOOMS. TOXIC ALGAE BLOOMS LIKE THE ONE. HERE NEAR THE POKAHEEAR MINA CONTINUES TO CONCERN RESIDENTS AND LAWMAKERS THE WORD ABOUT WHAT COULD HPEAPN IF THERE ARE DISCHARGES FROM LAKE OKEECHOBEE OFFICIALS WITH TH UES ARMYORPS C OF ENGINEERS UNDERSTAND THOSE CONCERNS AND ADMIT THE MONTH OF MAY ISRO PBABLY THE MOST CHALLEINNGIF YOU LOOK RIGHT NOW THE LAKE OKEECHOBEE LEVEL IS 13.61 AND WATER MANAGERS WANT TO GET IT DOWN TO AT LEAST 13. THE PLAN RIGHT NOW IS TO SLIGHTLY REDUCE WATER RELEASES WEST OF THE CLOSURE HATCHI RIVER THROUGH PULSE RELEASES AND NOT TO RELEAS
National Hurricane Center begins tropical weather outlooks May 15
Tropical cyclones are the wildcard during rainy season
A swollen Lake Okeechobee is the biggest concern for water managers going into South Florida’s rainy season, which officially starts Saturday and is forecast to be warmer and slightly wetter than normal.
Dry conditions beginning in January have lowered water levels bloated from a prolonged 2020 wet season throughout most areas south of the lake, including coastal Palm Beach County where just 7.6 inches of rain has fallen this year through Thursday a nearly 7-inch deficit.
But Akin Owosina, hydrology bureau chief for the South Florida Water Management District, said he would prefer the lake to be 12.5 feet above sea level before showers begin in earnest. On Friday, it stood more than a foot higher than that at 13.61 feet above sea level.
Lake Okeechobee discharges are being reduced to the Caloosahatchee River
Rep. Mast wants top Corps leadership to visit Lake O, Treasure Coast
A small volume of water is moving east through the floodgates at the Port Mayaca Lock & Dam in Martin County from Lake Okeechobee into the C-44 canal, so farming operations along the 23-mile long canal can draw water for irrigation.
Meanwhile, Col. Andrew Kelly, commander of the Jacksonville District of the Army Corps of Engineers, announced Friday the agency will reduce discharges to the Caloosahatchee River by 500 cubic feet per second and will adjust discharges to a pulse-style release schedule.
Rep. Brian Mast discusses toxic algal blooms in Lake Okeechobee
Mast: Bottom line is this, people should be worried
Rep. Brian Mast and Dr. Paul Gray talk about the algal blooms in Lake Okeechobee
and last updated 2021-05-09 12:00:29-04
A South Florida lawmaker is sounding the alarm on what could be a summer of toxic algae in the St. Lucie River.
âBottom line is this, people should be worried,â U.S. Rep. Brian Mast, R-Fla., told Michael Williams on To The Point.
Mast represents Florida s 18th district, covering parts of Palm Beach County, as well as Martin and St. Lucie counties.