Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

Army Corps to suspend flows from Lake Okeechobee(what a mess)
Fox4 ^

Posted on 07/09/2018 7:28:33 AM PDT by janetjanet998

GLADES COUNTY, Fla. -- The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will suspend water releases from Lake Okeechobee into the Caloosahatchee and St. Lucie Estuaries starting Monday morning.

"As we look at operations in the system, we believe we can pause discharges for a short time to get additional input from staff on available options for moving water," said Col. Jason Kirk, Jacksonville District Commander. "We have implemented higher stages in the canal along the Tamiami Trail and we have implemented deviations to generate flexibility in operations at the southern end of the system to move additional water south. We want to ensure we are using all available flexibility before we resume discharges east and west."


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: fl; florida; okeechobee; redtide
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-8081-93 next last
To: Migraine

I think it means we gotta buy some time to figure out how to fix this major cock up of ours!


61 posted on 07/09/2018 11:06:57 AM PDT by Mastador1 (I'll take a bad dog over a good politician any day!)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: Rebelbase; janetjanet998
There’s already a billion dollar plan to restore some of the original water flow south.

Except the Migratory Species Act and Endangered Species Act prohibit sending water into large regions south of the lake.

Ironic how the flood control system created a stable habitat for migratory birds and endangered species thereby preventing its natural use as part of the southward flow of water from Okeechobee into the Everglades.

You might find this informative:https://www.sfwmd.gov/sites/default/files/documents/gb_pres_system_constraints_2015_0312.pdf

62 posted on 07/09/2018 11:16:47 AM PDT by fso301
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 41 | View Replies]

To: Rebelbase

Not posting it to you specifically, but how is this algae generally dealt with?


63 posted on 07/09/2018 11:34:55 AM PDT by RinaseaofDs
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 41 | View Replies]

To: janetjanet998
not form dismantling flood control

I agree algae blooms happen and nutrient laden runoff can fuel algae blooms.

What I meant was why has it been only recently that we hear of large volumes of water being pumped into the Caloosahatchee and St. Lucie Rivers?

It isn't for lack of area south of the lake that water could be pumped to let it be filtered naturally. All that has been happening in that region for the past +30 years have been attempts to undo the old flood control system(s), buy farmers out and close/redirect drainage canals.

Why is it only in the past decade that we hear of the present issue?

64 posted on 07/09/2018 11:37:16 AM PDT by fso301
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 56 | View Replies]

To: Presbyterian Reporter; Rebelbase; janetjanet998
No one has mentioned the sugar cane that is now grown on the land that formerly was swampland.

That's because the big sugar cane fields are south of the lake. Water in that region drains from north to south. Fields adjacent to the lake can't drain into the lake due to the dike.


65 posted on 07/09/2018 11:57:51 AM PDT by fso301
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 36 | View Replies]

To: fso301
Flood control decades ago that successfully transformed Florida from fetid fever swamps into productive land has been partially undone by environmentalists resulting in the present mess.

Thanks for paying attention.

Eviro-commies and fed.gov started caving in our canals to re-create new make believe swamps...at great expense to humans and wildlife.

66 posted on 07/09/2018 12:05:29 PM PDT by AAABEST
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 25 | View Replies]

To: fso301

correct but when it rains in those areas any flow from the lake to the south is stopped so those fields/homes won’t flood because those drainage canals will overtop

such was the case this week...when the Miami canal was opened with 1000 cfs flowing south until it rained 2 inches one day and 1 inch the next in those areas


67 posted on 07/09/2018 12:07:49 PM PDT by janetjanet998
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 65 | View Replies]

To: Presbyterian Reporter

Since sugar is protected by tariffs, growing cane in Florida makes perfect sense. Got to protect all those sugar cane jobs.


68 posted on 07/09/2018 12:10:12 PM PDT by FreedomNotSafety
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 36 | View Replies]

To: fso301

from what i can tell

1) population growth- new and aging septic tank leaks up north(orlando)
2) more cow farms
3) more fertlizer runoff from lawns and farms
4) keep in mind all this ooze settles to the bottom over time and when a hurricane comes through its stirred up (irma last year)
5) drought years have no releases east/west


69 posted on 07/09/2018 12:14:34 PM PDT by janetjanet998
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 64 | View Replies]

To: janetjanet998
correct but when it rains in those areas any flow from the lake to the south is stopped so those fields/homes won’t flood because those drainage canals will overtop such was the case this week...when the Miami canal was opened with 1000 cfs flowing south until it rained 2 inches one day and 1 inch the next in those areas

Did you look over that presentation by South Florida Water Management District on the constraints it faces in pumping water. Virtually all legal constraints came into effect after the flood control system was fully established.

I say virtually all because the Migratory Species Act was passed circa 1918 but my understanding is the main issue with the Migratory Species Act is the circa 2000 amendment to the act greatly expanding the list of species affected.

70 posted on 07/09/2018 12:22:46 PM PDT by fso301
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 67 | View Replies]

To: fso301; janetjanet998

Legal constraints on the SFWMD prevent it from pumping water into large areas south of Lake Okeechobee even though prior to the flood control system, water from the lake would have flowed through those areas naturally.


71 posted on 07/09/2018 12:27:37 PM PDT by fso301
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 70 | View Replies]

To: janetjanet998

By the SFWMD being legally prevented from pumping water into large areas south of Lake Okeechobee, I meant large uninhabited, non-agricultural areas south of the lake.


72 posted on 07/09/2018 12:31:51 PM PDT by fso301
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 71 | View Replies]

To: fso301

yes amoung other things...they can only move so much water south of out WCA 3 early in the wet season when some bird is nesting or something...

But, like last year, they got a waiver to overide that

but again even if all the 3 pumping stations are sending water south at 100% capacity its only like 4500 cfs or so and they would never go that high because it would flood areas south

max flow west is about about 9000 cfs east 7000 cfs

inflow form the lake today is 5500 cfs. Irma had inflow at 37,000 cfs at one point!

Evaporation of course also occurs lowering the lake too. but more in the sunny dry season

9000 cfs west 5000 south 7000 east...if I remember correctly those are the physical max outflows


73 posted on 07/09/2018 12:35:30 PM PDT by janetjanet998
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 70 | View Replies]

To: fso301

yes amoung other things...they can only move so much water south of out WCA 3 early in the wet season when some bird is nesting or something...

But, like last year, they got a waiver to overide that

but again even if all the 3 pumping stations are sending water south at 100% capacity its only like 4500 cfs or so and they would never go that high because it would flood areas south

max flow west is about about 9000 cfs east 7000 cfs

inflow form the lake today is 5500 cfs. Irma had inflow at 37,000 cfs at one point!

Evaporation of course also occurs lowering the lake too. but more in the sunny dry season

9000 cfs west 5000 south 7000 east...if I remember correctly those are the physical max outflows


74 posted on 07/09/2018 12:35:31 PM PDT by janetjanet998
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 70 | View Replies]

To: fso301

there is a plan to build a water holding area south of the lake

White House budget office must move Everglades restoration project forward — now!

A critical element of the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan — a water-storage reservoir south of Lake Okeechobee — is on track to get federal funding.
The reservoir will provide an outlet into which lake water can be released, treated and, ultimately, moved south to replenish the Everglades.

The estimated cost of the reservoir is $1.4 billion.https://www.miamiherald.com/opinion/editorials/article214520279.html


75 posted on 07/09/2018 12:43:35 PM PDT by janetjanet998
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 72 | View Replies]

To: janetjanet998

Just In:

Florida governor issues emergency order to fight algal blooms in South Florida

.....His order will allow agencies to waive various restrictions and regulations to store water in additional areas south of Lake Okeechobee. ...

South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD)
Using this emergency declaration, DEP will work with the SFWMD to identify additional storage north and south of Lake Okeechobee, including the Kissimmee Chain of Lakes to decrease water inflows and help to reduce water levels in the Lake. These actions include:

Using the S-5A Pump Station in Palm Beach County to move 400 cubic feet per second (cfs) out of the L-8 Canal to prevent water from flowing back into Lake Okeechobee.
Moving water to tide through every available structure, including the Hillsboro, North New River and Miami canals.
Using the S-34 Structure to move 200 cfs out of Water Conservation Area 2A into the North New River in Broward County.
Fully utilizing the A-1 Flow Equalization Basin and L-8 Flow Equalization Basin, both components of Gov. Scott’s Restoration Strategies Plan, to store water.
Storing water on public lands through the Dispersed Water Management program.
Working with private landowners to store water on their properties.

https://www.wptv.com/news/state/florida-governor-issues-emergency-order-to-fight-algal-blooms-in-south-florida


76 posted on 07/09/2018 2:12:22 PM PDT by janetjanet998
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 75 | View Replies]

To: Migraine

Saw those levels on Tamiami Trail today, practically ready to flood the road.

LOTS of dead fish washing ashore from Naples all the way south.


77 posted on 07/09/2018 4:54:44 PM PDT by Rome2000 (SMASH THE CPUSA-SIC SEMPER TYRANNIS-CLOSE ALL MOSQUES-GOD WITH US)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 3 | View Replies]

To: janetjanet998

rainfall:

rainfall since the record May has been about average with periods of above and below amounts..its the wet season so average means wet

The upper Kissimmee region was hurt hard the other day wth alot of rain sending the lakes ell above average....not sure how much water they can hold back up there

it takes about 10 days for water drain into the Lake from that region...

the past two days have been very dry with yesterday no rainfall and today below average

as luck would have it there an area of thunderstorms over the lake at this time dumping heavy rain...so much above rainfall then lake today but not the overall watershed

the outlook for the next 10 days is for about average rain overall with some days wetter then others


78 posted on 07/09/2018 4:56:32 PM PDT by janetjanet998
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 76 | View Replies]

To: FreedomPoster

Excessive use of fertilizer causes it, I am led to believe.


79 posted on 07/09/2018 8:40:03 PM PDT by Taxman (We will never be a truly free people so long as we have the income tax and the IRS.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]

To: fso301

I have read that “Big Sugar” is to blame for a lot of this mess.

Adam Putnam may be part of the problem.


80 posted on 07/09/2018 8:41:49 PM PDT by Taxman (We will never be a truly free people so long as we have the income tax and the IRS.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 25 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-6061-8081-93 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson