Water, water everywhere; when is it coming our way?
Pounded by rain, Lake Okeechobee keeps rising.
On Wednesday, Jan. 17, Lake O stood at 16.18 feet, the highest it’s been at this point in the year for the past five years at least.
On Jan. 17, 2019, the lake was at 12.34 feet; on that date in 2020, it was at 13.01 feet; in 2021, 15.64 feet; in 2022, 15.23 feet; and in 2023, 16.13 feet.
You can see the clear trend of the lake being higher in recent years; and this in fact has triggered concern from lake advocates, who are clamoring for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to do something to get the water level down and improve ecological conditions.
That “something” may well be discharges, later this year.
Indeed, with this El Nino winter in full swing, we’re not expecting the lake level to fall significantly any time soon. That means almost certain discharges in 2024 — the only question is when.
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