Lake Okeechobee recovery is on target
- Katrina Elsken Lake Okeechobee News
- Jun 27
- 1 min read
Lake Okeechobee recovery operations met a critical target in late June. As of June 26, the big lake was below 11.5 feet for 60 days.
In a June 26 media briefing, Col. Brandon Bowman, commander of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Jacksonville District, said lake conditions look good. He said new submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) has been found and water quality has improved.
The lower lake level has made it possible for Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) and South Florida Water Management District (SWFMD) to conduct controlled burns to eliminate dead vegetation. They have also been able to jump start growth in some areas by planting aquatic vegetation.
Bowman said they expect the lake to stay below 12 feet for another few weeks, meeting the second target of 90 days below 12 feet.
They hope to keep the lake rise to a slow ascension and end the wet season with the Big O around 14 or 14.5 feet.
Hurricane damage and years of high water levels destroy most of the SAV in the lake. The SAV cleans the water and provides critical habitat for fish. The lower lake levels are needed in order for sunlight to reach the lake bottom so new SAV will sprout.
