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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.
US Army Corps of Engineers to double Lake O releases to Caloosahatchee River
Published: April 22, 2021 4:34 PM EDT
Updated: April 22, 2021 5:01 PM EDT
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Jacksonville District will increase Lake Okeechobee releases at the W.P. Franklin Lock and Dam (S-79) from the current 1,000 cubic feet per second (cfs) to 2,000 cfs beginning April 24.
The increase is intended to help restart the lake recession following heavy rains that caused the lake to rise by 0.02 feet in the past seven days. No lake releases are planned from the St. Lucie Lock and Dam (S-80). Local runoff in either estuary may cause higher flows than the targets as operators release water to manage canal levels. Thursday’s lake elevation is 14.25 feet, which is 0.03 feet higher than last week and 2.85 feet higher than last year on this date.
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).