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.
Samples taken Monday on the floodgates west side measured 22 parts per billion of microsystin, a toxin sometimes found in cyanobacteria, more commonly called blue-green algae, according to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.
At 8 parts per billion, microsystin makes water too hazardous to touch, ingest or inhale for people, pets and wildlife, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
The Florida Department of Health office in Martin County Friday issued an avoid-water advisory for the Port Mayaca area and has posted warning signs, spokesperson Renay Rouse said.
With the Port Mayaca and St. Lucie Lock & Dam floodgates closed since April 10, the algae cannot travel to the St. Lucie River, unless the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers resumes Lake O discharges east to the C-44 Canal that flows into the river.
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Algae at the Port Mayaca Lock & Dam this week was nearly three times more toxic than the minimum level at which the federal government deems it unsafe.
Samples taken Monday on the floodgates west side measured 22 parts per billion of microsystin, a toxin sometimes found in cyanobacteria, more commonly called blue-green algae, according to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.
At 8 parts per billion, microsystin makes water too hazardous to touch, ingest or inhale for people, pets and wildlife, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
The Florida Department of Health office in Martin County Friday issued an avoid-water advisory for the Port Mayaca area and has posted warning signs, spokesperson Renay Rouse said.
Lake Okeechobee discharges to the St. Lucie River will end Saturday and be reduced to the Caloosahatchee River, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced Friday.
The reason for that decision is lack of rainfall and a quickly receding lake not traces of low-toxic algae seen at the Port Mayaca and St. Lucie floodgates last week, according to Col. Andrew Kelly, the Corp s Florida commander. The short answer is no, Kelly said when TCPalm asked whether algae was a factor in the Corps decision. It was not about algae, it was all about lake recession.
Having receded about a foot since discharges began 34 days ago, the lake s level was about 14 feet, 2 inches Friday. That still isn t as low as the Corps typically wants it to be to make room for heavy summer rains historically 12½ feet by June 1.