Monday, Calusa Waterkeeper posted images of what appears to be blue-green algae that could be seen in streaks over Lake Okeechobee. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration uses satellite images of Lake Okeechobee to show how blue-green algae conditions change on the lake. Rick Stumpf, a NOAA oceanographer, monitors the time of year we see the […]
PORT MAYACA, Fla. (CBS12) Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Jacksonville District will execute a temporary, minor deviation to the Lake Okeechobee Regulation Schedule April 20-21 as part of the ongoing study by the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) and U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) to find ways to indirectly measure sediment and nutrients transported from the lake to the estuaries. The deviation will allow up to 5,000 cubic feet per second (cfs) flow from structures for short periods of time for up to 8 hours on April 20 at the Moore Haven Lock and Dam (S-77) and April 21 at the Port Mayaca Lock and Dam (S-308). USACE executed a similar deviation in February to support the same study and expects to do so again in May. This study will help develop a better understanding of how different release schedules may influence nutrient/sediment loading to the estuaries.
Tuesday s release from the Moore Haven Lock & Dam to the Caloosahatchee River does not concern the Treasure Coast, but Wednesday s release from the Port Mayaca Lock & Dam does because of highly toxic algae documented there in the past week.
If the Army Corps of Engineers has to open the St. Lucie Lock & Dam during the study, the algae could make its way from the lake to the C-44 Canal to the St. Lucie River.
To minimize the potential of that happening, the Corps will try to lower the level in the C-44 Canal, according to a news release the agency issued Monday.
Spotlight on Lake O sediment study April 20, 2021, by Eldin Ganic
The USACE Jacksonville District will execute a temporary, minor deviation to the Lake Okeechobee Regulation Schedule April 20 and 21 as part of the ongoing study by the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) and U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) to find ways to indirectly measure sediment and nutrients transported from the lake to the estuaries.
The deviation will allow up to 5,000 cubic feet per second (cfs) flow from structures for short periods of time for up to 8 hours on April 20 at the Moore Haven Lock and Dam (S-77) and April 21 at the Port Mayaca Lock and Dam (S-308).
UPDATE: Lake Okeechobee sediment study releases scheduled
By USACE - | Apr 20, 2021
UPDATE:
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Jacksonville District reported that it will postpone Lake Okeechobee releases planned for April 21 from the Port Mayaca Lock and Dam (S-308) to support a U.S. Geological Survey and South Florida Water Management District ongoing Lake Okeechobee sediment study. Based on the current conditions, the SFWMD asked to reschedule the study at S-308 until a later date, but the releases supporting the study at the Moore Haven Lock and Dam (S-77) went forward today as planned. To learn more about the deviation, visit https://go.usa.gov/xHKFH.