Because the big lake is in the midst of the region-spanning Kissimmee-Okeechobee-Everglades ecosystem, conditions in and around the lake affect lands, rivers, people and creatures to the east, west, north and south.
Very high, or very low water levels can cause problems. Low water levels in the lake started in 2006 and continue through 2008 -- following more than 18 months of below-normal rainfall. Low water levels contribute to regional water storage deficits, and short term water shortages. At the same time, low levels can be beneficial in the long-run for plant and fish populations in the lake.
NEWS: Herbert Hoover Dike Report - Findings and recommendations from an independent panel evaluating the dike around Lake Okeechobee. (Links to the full report.) [PDF]
NEW: The Ripple Effect covers the latest water news – straight from the source. Updated monthly after Governing Board meetings, the newsletter is emailed to subscribers, and is also available here. Premiering in May 2008, this newsletter replaces the State of the Water Management System and the Greater Everglades Ecosystem eNewsletter.
Very high water levels can threaten the integrity of the dike around the lake, and may require the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers to release excess water to the estuaries east and west of the lake, in order to protect the health and safety of those living around the lake. The high winds and heavy rains brought by the four hurricanes and other storms of Hurricane Season 2004 brought close to six feet of water to the lake. Those same winds and waves also stirred up the sediments at the lake's bottom that normally store excess phosphorus. The lake level was declining (as it normally does in the dry season), until storms in March, May and June 2005 again brought high lake levels. The years of 2006 through 2008 have brought far below normal rainfall, creating very low lake levels.
Northern Everglades
Lake Okeechobee Update
After Hurricane Wilma
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