JACKSONVILLE –  The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has reduced the releases from Lake Okeechobee to the Caloosahatchee River.

On April 30, the target releases to the Caloosahatchee were reduced to 1,000 cubic feet per second (cfs), measured at the Franklin Lock. 

This represents a further gradual reduction from the level of 2,000 cfs that had been in place since November of 2021, the 1,800 targeted pulse release that was initiated on April 2, and the 1,500 cfs targeted pulse release that began on April 16.

The Franklin Lock is more than 40 miles from the Julian Keen Jr. Lock, at Moore Haven, where water from the lake enters the Caloosahatchee River.  Flow at the Franklin Lock is a combination of local basin runoff and lake releases. If local basin runoff is sufficient to meet the target, no water is released from Lake O.

“Evapotranspiration rates have continued to increase. Nearly a tenth of a foot came off the lake from evapotranspiration alone this week, but overall, we’re in a good spot,” said Lt. Col. Todd Polk, Jacksonville District Deputy Commander for South Florida. “We heard from the scientists and stakeholders on Tuesday, and they have been supportive of our plan to step-down flows to try to moderate that recession rate. This week, our partners at the South Florida Water Management District recommended a 1,000 cfs flow rate to the Caloosahatchee, and we are in agreement with their recommendation. This flow rate provides beneficial flows to the Caloosahatchee and should also maintain good conditions for fish and oyster spawning in the estuary.”

As of May 5, Lake Okeechobee was 12.98 feet above sea level.