Army Corps increase water releases from Lake O

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers increased water releases from Lake Okeechobee starting Friday.

Since we are in hurricane season, the Army Corps say they want to make sure the lake levels stay low.

They will adjust the amount of water let out of the lake at a 14-day average of 2,000 cubic feet per second (cfs) from Moore Haven Lock and Dam and 1,500 cfs pulse from St. Lucie Lock and Dam.

“With continued paramount focus on Herbert Hoover Dike safety throughout 2018, we need to make increased discharges to slow the still dangerous rise in lake levels,” said Jacksonville District Commander, Col. Jason Kirk in a press release.

The lake was measured at 14.57 feet on Thursday, which the Army Corps says is above the stage when Irma struck in September, causing the water level to exceed 17 feet.

The Army Corps says their staff will continue to monitor conditions and adjust flows as necessary.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said the releases are necessary to lower the water levels of Lake Okeechobee, preventing potentially disastrous flooding for the surrounding communities.

The increase in water releases comes at a frustrating time for residents along the Caloosahatchee who are seeing heavy blue-green algae return to canals just a week after Lee County cleanup funds ran out.

Dr. Mike Parsons, a marine science professor at Florida Gulf Coast Univerisity, fears the water releases will just make things worse in the middle of a water crisis.

“Now were releasing water when we have these two harmful algae bloom flare ups are we throwing gas on the fire,” Dr. Parsons said.

Now more water, possibly filled with algae, is flowing into the Caloosahatchee River.

“That’s high enough where you will see environmental impact,” Dr. Parsons said.

And for people already living with algae on the canal, they’re dreading what lies ahead.

“All those forms dump in, then the sugar farms dump in, now we release it to two sides … who gets it? We do this year,” said North Fort Myers resident Glen Adkins.

But it’s North Fort Myers residents like Sarah Gilbertson who feel like they’re getting dumped with the consequences.

“They got to come up with something because why should we end up with this from their doing,” Gilbertson said.

For now, neighbors will have to wait and see if this algae problem will get worse over the next few weeks. They’re hoping a new cleanup plan in Cape Coral has success.

MORE: Algae returns to Cape Coral

For more information about water releases, you can visit the Army Corps website.