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.
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."
I think it means we gotta buy some time to figure out how to fix this major cock up of ours!
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
Not posting it to you specifically, but how is this algae generally dealt with?
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?
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.
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.
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
Since sugar is protected by tariffs, growing cane in Florida makes perfect sense. Got to protect all those sugar cane jobs.
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
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.
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.
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.
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
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
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
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.
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.
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
Excessive use of fertilizer causes it, I am led to believe.
I have read that “Big Sugar” is to blame for a lot of this mess.
Adam Putnam may be part of the problem.
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