Army Corps to temporarily increase Lake Okeechobee water releases

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers says it will increase water discharges to the east and west from Lake Okeechobee.

Beginning February 23, water to the St. Lucie estuary from the St. Lucie Lock and Dam will average 500 cubic feet per second and water to the Caloosahatchee estuary will flow at an average rate of 1,800 cubic feet per second, the Corps said.

The rate of the flows could be exceeded if there is additional rain runoff, officials said.