People in and around Martin County are anxiously awaiting whether the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will announce discharges from Lake Okeechobee to the St. Lucie Estuary.
The Army Corps wouldn’t comment on changes but said an announcement will be coming Wednesday.
Protecting Paradise
Army Corps considering discharges from Lake Okeechobee to St. Lucie Estuary
Cassandra Garcia 11:36 PM, Feb 13, 2024
The current water level at Lake Okeechobee is 16.38 feet, which is about 2 feet higher than they would like the lake to be ahead of the rainy season.
WPTV called the Army Corps and they couldn’t comment but said an announcement would be coming Wednesday.
The Army Corps has two dams to open, which can poison Treasure Coast waters with Lake Okeechobee water that can contain pollutants and toxic algae.
In 2021, a toxic algae bloom took hold in Pahokee , forcing tourists to stay away and businesses to temporarily shut down.
The Florida Oceanographic Society and Everglades Foundation groups told WPTV that they’ve been in contact with the Army Corps.