Expert warns of potential for Lake Okeechobee discharges this winter
This summer, experts braced for a flurry of discharges from Lake Okeechobee that would threaten local waterways on the Treasure Coast, including the St. Lucie River and the Indian River Lagoon.
However, because discharges were rare, Lake Okeechobee is about sixteen feet high right now. That's approximately a foot higher than normal, a cause for concern with the wet winter we've had so far.
“We’re experiencing El Niño conditions and during El Niño years, Florida gets a lot of rainfall. My big concern is that we’re going to see discharges this winter,” said Dr. Zack Jud, the Director of Education at the Florida Oceanographic Society.
