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On April 15, 2023 the Army Corps reduced flows from Lake Okeechobee to a 7-day average of 1,800 cfs from 2,000 cfs at the W.P. Franklin Lock and Dam (S-79). Flows were also reduced to 0 cfs at the St. Lucie Estuary (S-80) and the Lake Worth Lagoon from 500 cfs and 100 cfs, respectively.
The Lake Okeechobee Regulation Schedule (LORS08) suggests 650 cfs at S-79 due to current dry tributary conditions, but they are currently utilizing water that was previously "banked" to keep flows lower after Hurricane Ian. The higher flows we are receiving now are necessary to maintain salinities in the estuary and to reduce Lake Okeechobee levels.
Army Corps models indicate that Lake Okeechobee will be at 13.09 ft by June 1st, which is 0.59 ft higher than we would like it to be before the beginning of the wet season. The reduced flows (about 800 cfs total) will reduce the rate of water leaving the lake, but they plan to send "as much water south as possible" and expect evapotranspiration (evaporation of water from the land and bodies of water to the atmosphere) to increase with the longer days and warmer weather. The reduced flows to the Caloosahatchee will also support spawning activities of oysters and fish which is expected to increase in the following months.
In mid-February the Army Corps began utilizing banked releases from a make-up release tool which allowed them to make releases at levels lower than suggested in LORS08 since 11/18/22 and bank the volume not released for beneficial releases throughout the dry season. They have used approximately 120,000 acre feet of the banked water, and 775,000 acre feet remain in the bank. It is expected that not all of the banked water will be released before the beginning of the wet season.
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