Army Corps: No end in sight for Lake O discharges

Lake Okeechobee discharges could be a long-term event, the federal government indicated Thursday, without specifying an end date or set lake level to achieve.

The Army Corps of Engineers said it indefinitely will continue releasing water east to the St. Lucie River, west to the Caloosahatchee River and south through various spillways.

"We're looking at this being a long-term thing," Florida commander Col. Andrew Kelly said. "But again, we're being very measured, very deliberate, very mindful on a weekly basis and can adjust pretty rapidly as needed."

Lake O's elevation Thursday was 15 feet, 1 inch, which is 2½ inches lower since March 6, when the Army Corps opened the St. Lucie Lock & Dam floodgates.