Army Corps begins lowering Lake O’s water level; How will it affect the Caloosahatchee?

The Caloosahatchee is expected to swell when Lake Okeechobee will soon begin dumping enough water to fill an Olympic-sized swimming pool every 22 seconds.

The lake is too high, and the Army Corps of Engineers have said they need to lower it.

The Franklin Lock and its dam, known as S-79, is the last lock before water from Lake Okeechobee flows freely through the Caloosahatchee.

Taking these measures isn’t an easy decision for the Army Corps.

Releases began on Saturday because the lake is too high. The lake is over 16 feet, and keeping it that high stresses the ecosystems inside it and threatens the integrity of the embankment.

To that end, they have to send water out.

To the south, Everglades restoration isn’t currently at the point where enough water can be stored and cleaned.