The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is advising boaters on Lake Okeechobee that the low water level is now creating hazardous navigation conditions. With the water level in Lake Okeechobee already high, John Cassani with the Calusa Waterkeepers said heavy rainfall can create problems. This extra water sent to tide (in addition to the 457 cubic feet per second the South Florida Water Management District already allocates to the Caloosahatchee during the dry season) added up to about one foot of water on Lake Okeechobee. Lake Okeechobee stood at 12.84 feet as of Thursday — a level that concerned Pete Kwiatkowski, the water management district's water supply bureau section administrator. He said a water … A lot of water from Lake Okeechobee is coming our way. Lake Okeechobee's water level drops below targeted range, raising water supply concerns. 1. Only two months ago at the start of August, Lake Okeechobee was still below the “ 11 ft above sea level” mark … and at the tail end of its record-setting 511 day streak below that level. The lake is lower at this point in the year than it's been since 2011, and it's getting people's attention. And Lake Okeechobee levels are dropping as the heart of the dry season approaches. Lake Okeechobee Location Geography Lake Okeechobee is located in Florida. Lake Okeechobee levels are below average for this time of year with the dry season looming. This current Water level is always updating with live water level conditions for Lake Okeechobee. Folsom Lake water levels are at 28% due to the lack of rain over the last couple of years. Lake levels usually range from 12.5 feet to 15.5 feet, although it has been below 11.5 feet in recent weeks during Florida’s typically dry spring. by Maggy Hurchalla. The water level in Lake Okeechobee is low because there’s been little rain and farmers continue to get a lot of water for irrigation The South Florida Water Coalition has accused Congressman Brian Mast of a ‘political stunt’ during the Covid-19 crisis . While not the lowest it's been, it is not typical for this time of year. Lake Okeechobee was known to Florida’s Seminole Indians as “Oki Chubi,” which means “Big Water.” The Waterway’s Origins In the late 1800s, developers began plans to connect Lake Okeechobee to the headwaters of the Caloosahatchee River. By Maggy Hurchalla, environmental activist . Click picture of the lake for daily water level updates or click graph on right for monthly readings… Lake Okeechobee waterways have been in the news a lot recently. The Army Corps tries to keep the lake level … Due to the lengthy dry conditions, the lake was also at a low “navigation depth” of only 5.1ft. The Army Corps of Engineers announced it would begin to sharply reduce the flow from Lake Okeechobee based on readings at the W.P. The 2008 Lake Okeechobee regulation schedule was crafted to ensure water levels in the 730-square-mile impoundment don’t get too high or too low. The Army Corps manages Lake Okeechobee levels and has in recent years kept the surface of the lake between 12.5 and 15.5 feet above sea level to … When the water level rises it overflows on the southern shore into the everglades. Datum of gages is at NGVD of 1929 (levels by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers). Ever so slightly, ever so slowly, Lake Okeechobee's water level is creeping lower. Lake Okeechobee is home to scores of wildlife ranging from marsh rabbits to wading birds and ducks to perhaps its most famous resident — the alligator. Sheet outflow occurred historically across the entire southern rim into the Everglades. Jun 06, 2011 at 11:25 AM . This is unusual for Lake Okeechobee. By Andy Reid. A number of entities, including West Palm, depend on lake water. By Andy Reid. See WDR FL-00 … Only two months ago at the start of August, Lake Okeechobee was still below the “ 11 ft above sea level” mark … and at the tail end of its record-setting 511 day streak below that level. Lake Okeechobee hits lowest level since 2008. The announcement follows widespread reports of red tide in the region, which the Calusa Waterkeeper has blamed on being fostered by continuous releases from Lake Okeechobee into the Calooshatchee River … Franklin Lock and Dam beginning on Dec. 19. Lake Okeechobee water level falls below 11 feet, lowest in two years May 30, 2019, 5:52 PM The water level at Lake Okeechobee is currently below 11 feet, the lowest it's been in nearly two years, according to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. With its very shallow water, the lake can get very choppy -- even with mild wind conditions. Sun Sentinel | Apr 04, 2017 at 9:01 AM . The Army Corps of Engineers said Friday they’ll start releasing water from the lake in a matter of days. It is the It is 45 miles in diameter and is about 730 second largest freshwater lake in the U.S. square miles. Major natural tributaries to the lake are Fisheating Creek, Taylor Creek and the Kissimmee River. The water levels on lake Okeechobee will fluctuate 3-5 feet per year. When the management goal is to keep the Lake below 16 feet, Lake biota, from the marsh, to birds, to fisheries, tend to be robust. The lake was like glass nearly the whole way across. --Four water-stage recorders at various locations around the lake. The lake is not being drained to eliminate algae blooms in the Treasure Coast and 8 million people are not about to suffer water shortages because of low levels. When Okeechobee levels rise above 16 feet, even for short periods of time, environmental degradation results. May 4, 2020. in Influencers. Lake Okeechobee's water levels have dropped to an alarmingly low level as Florida enters its dry season, prompting concerns that other waterways could be affected. From Oct. 1, 2000 to Mar. When the lake fell below 11 feet in June 2019, water managers were not concerned. With Lake Okeechobee at 15.73 feet above sea level on Jan. 8, the corps is taking a break to review the latest weather forecasts, talk to the scientists and do the math in an attempt to make their best guess on how to manage lake releases between now and the start of the wet season. reporter: tracy campbell says the water levels at lake okeechobee are too low. "That … 14, 2001, ten water-stage recorders at various locations around the rim of the lake. The Lake looked like it was rising out of the cellar just like it did in 2001 (when it rose gradually through the summer and crested at 15 ft near the “wet season’s” end in mid November). The water level at Lake Okeechobee is currently below 11 feet, the lowest it's been in nearly two years, according to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. In 2004, lake levels increased to a very high elevation after four hurricanes passed over south Florida. The proposal was to cultivate the land around the lake and create a water-navigable route to the Gulf Coast. Water level of Florida's Lake Okeechobee between January 2016 and September 28, 2017, compared to historical levels from 1931 - 2016. 1 weather alerts 1 … The trends are clear. Only two months ago at the start of August, Lake Okeechobee was still below the “ 11 ft above sea level” mark … and at the tail end of its record-setting 511 day streak below that level. Lake Okeechobee is at its lowest level in eight years, for this time of year, and the increased releases in the past month are not affecting the color of the coast of Southwest Florida Friday. For additional information on Lake Okeechobee water level click here! Hundredth of an inch by hundredth of an inch. The Lake looked like it was rising out of the cellar just like it did in 2001 (when it rose gradually through the summer and crested at 15 ft near the “wet season’s” end in mid November). Lake Okeechobee Water Level, to high or to low? The climate is warm and that is Sunlight Why our nickname is “The Sunshine State”. Click below for a direct live feed showing the current water levels of Lake Okeechobee as shown on the US Army Corp of Engineers Website. By: Matt Sczesny , Stephanie Susskind Lake Okeechobee is located on the south-central portion of the Florida peninsula at latitudes 27o 12'N to 26o 40'N and longitudes 81o 07'W to 80o 37'W. The case studies above review about 65 years of water level management on Lake Okeechobee. Boaters beware: Low water levels in Lake Okeechobee create hazards