Army Corps of Engineers considering discharges from Lake Okeechobee to St. Lucie Estuary
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is considering "different release scenarios" of discharges from Lake Okeechobee to the St. Lucie Estuary ahead of the wet and hurricane seasons.
On Tuesday, the Army Corps told WPTV an announcement would be coming Wednesday. However, the Corps did confirm that they have been considering making releases as water levels in Lake Okeechobee are 16.3 feet deep, which is about 2 feet higher than they would like the lake to be ahead of the rainy season.
Mark Perry, the executive director and CEO of the Florida Oceanographic Society, said although there currently isn't an algae bloom in Lake Okeechobee, these releases can still be detrimental to the environment.
