No water released from Big O as rain drives lake higher

The 2024 hurricane season has been kind to South Florida so far, according to Major Cory Bell, Deputy Commander of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Jacksonville District, who spoke to media in a conference call on Aug. 23.

USACE is “very comfortable where we are right now,” said Bell. “Barring a major storm event, we are hopeful we can maintain our targets. The hurricane season has not been very active, but we haven’t even reached the peak yet,” he added.

Bell said the potential for blue-green algae on Lake O is low.  “The scientists believe we’re probably through the height of the bloom potential,” he added.

He said they receive daily reports from the water control structures and have not had any significant activity there. “We’re super hopeful we have seen the worst of it for the season,” he said.

One big storm can still change everything.