U. S. Army Corps of Engineers, Jacksonville District
Lake Okeechobee and Vicinity Report
Data Ending 2400 hours 06 OCT 2008
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Okeechobee Lake Regulation Elevation Last Year 2YRS Ago
(ft-NGVD) (ft-NGVD) (ft-NGVD)
*Okeechobee Lake Elevation 14.96 10.09 13.26 (Official Elv)
Bottom of High Lake Mngmt= 16.84 Top of Water Short Mngmt= 12.97
Currently in Operational Management Band
06OCT (1965-2007) Period of Record Average 14.99
Difference from POR Average -0.03
Simulated Average LORS2008 [1965-2000] 13.87
Difference from Average LORS2008 1.09
Today Lake Okechobee elevation is determined from the 4 interior stations
The lake is at 15 feet and has been at about that same level for weeks. They are only letting water out now to keep the lake from going higher. When the lake levels get too high -- as in above 15 feet -- it kills off all the good vegetation around the shoreline. That's the vegetation that fish use for spawning and young fish use for cover. They are trying to manage the lake from a low of 13 feet to a high of 15 feet.
Data Ending 2400 hours 04 OCT 2008
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Okeechobee Lake Regulation Elevation Last Year 2YRS Ago
(ft-NGVD) (ft-NGVD) (ft-NGVD)
*Okeechobee Lake Elevation 14.97 10.02 13.30 (Official Elv)
Bottom of High Lake Mngmt= 16.80 Top of Water Short Mngmt= 12.98
Currently in Operational Management Band
04OCT (1965-2007) Period of Record Average 14.96
Difference from POR Average 0.01
Simulated Average LORS2008 [1965-2000] 13.84
Difference from Average LORS2008 1.13
Today Lake Okechobee elevation is determined from the 4 interior stations
We are again concerned that the Corp of Engineers are lowing Lake Okeechobee to a level that can not be sustained by the Dry Season. Those that need the water for their livelihood and those who use the Lake for recreation have more then once seen the Corp decisions on water level late in the hurricane season destroy the viability of Lake water for public use. When the Lake reaches 15 feet above sea level, that should be sufficient for pulse releases. Nature will take care of remaining lowering as the Hurricane season winds down and the dry season takes over.
