The South Florida Water Management District will begin work on Friday to install two temporary pumps. These pumps will be located in southern Palm Beach County just west of the S-39 structure on the border of Water Conservation Area (WCA) 2A and Water Conservation Area 1, also known as the Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge. Measuring in at 42 inches in diameter, these pumps will move a combined 170-200 cubic feet per second (cfs) of water from WCA-2A north into WCA-1 and then to tide. This is one of several measures enabled by an emergency order from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to help move more water out of the conservation areas and lower levels in Lake Okeechobee following record May rainfall.

 

The temporary pump installation will require the temporary closure of two of the four boat ramps located at the Loxahatchee Road Boat Ramp on the southern border of the Loxahatchee Refuge and the western part of the parking lot. These closures are expected to begin on Friday and last for the duration of the emergency pumping. The remaining two boat ramps will stay open for access.