DEP'S DAILY UPDATE ON LAKE OKEECHOBEE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 22, 2016
CONTACT: DEP Press Office, 850.245.2112, DEPNews@dep.state.fl.us

DEP'S DAILY UPDATE ON LAKE OKEECHOBEE

In an effort to keep Floridians informed of the state’s efforts to protect the environment, wildlife and economies of the communities surrounding Lake Okeechobee and the Caloosahatchee and St. Lucie estuaries, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection is issuing a Lake Okeechobee status update each weekday. These updates will help residents stay informed of the latest rainfall and lake level conditions, as well as the latest actions by the State of Florida and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Summary of the State of Florida’s Actions:

• On March 17, 2016, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced that it would reduce the amount of water flowing from Lake Okeechobee beginning March 18, 2016. Click here for more information.

• On March 17, 2016, Governor Rick Scott activated Florida’s Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan Program for more than 100 businesses affected by the federal government’s water releases from Lake Okeechobee. Earlier this month, Governor Scott directed the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) to activate a business emergency operations center to survey businesses damaged by the water releases in Lee, Martin and St. Lucie Counties. After receiving survey results, DEO has opened the application period for loans to eligible small businesses from March 16 to April 30, 2016.
• The Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan Program provides short-term loans to assist a business until other financial resources are secured after a natural disaster. To see if a business is eligible or to complete an application by April 30, 2016, visit floridadisasterloan.org. For additional questions regarding local administration of the Emergency Bridge Loan Program, contact the Florida Small Business Development Center Network at 239-745-3704 (Lee County) or 772-462-7069 (Martin and St. Lucie Counties).

• The South Florida Water Management District has responded to record January rainfall by so far moving billions of gallons of clean water to relieve high water levels in two critical locations. This unprecedented response includes:
• 2.7 billion gallons of water moved into the A-1 Flow Equalization Basin from Lake Okeechobee. To reduce harm to the St. Lucie and Caloosahatchee estuaries from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers' Lake Okeechobee releases, the District began emergency operations in early March to send lake water directly into this new reservoir.
• Water managers began emergency operations on Feb. 15, 2016, to move water from the vast wetlands in Miami-Dade and Broward counties to Everglades National Park. The record rainfall left water levels too high for Everglades wildlife in WCA-3.
• By raising the L-29 canal level, per an order from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and at the request of Governor Rick Scott, the South Florida Water Management District has been able to move approximately 26.3 billion gallons of clean water into the northern portions of Everglades National Park, as of midnight on March 21, 2016.

• On Feb. 26, 2016, Governor Rick Scott signed Executive Order 16-59, which declares a state of emergency in Lee, Martin and St. Lucie counties, following heavy rainfall that has resulted in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers frequently discharging water from Lake Okeechobee to the St. Lucie and Caloosahatchee estuaries. This is a result of inadequate funding by the federal government. Governor Scott called on the Obama Administration to fully fund the more than $800 million in needed repairs to the federally operated Herbert Hoover Dike to safely hold water to prevent these discharges. To view the Executive Order, click here.
  

• On Feb. 11, 2016, Governor Rick Scott requested that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers take immediate action to relieve flooding of the Everglades Water Conservation Areas and the releases of water from Lake Okeechobee to the Caloosahatchee and St. Lucie estuaries. Click here to read the letter.
• The Florida Department of Environmental Protection and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) issued orders on Feb. 11, 2016, that would allow the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to move forward with this request. Click here to read the orders.
• On Feb. 15, 2016, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers agreed to Governor Scott’s request to raise water levels in the L-29 canal in order to move water south through Shark River Slough to ease the effects of flooding in the Everglades. The South Florida Water Management District began operation of the S-333 structure at 5:30 p.m. on Feb. 15, 2016, after the state received an execution order from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

 Lake Conditions:

Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission's Wildlife Update:

The FWC continues to monitor water levels and the status of wildlife in three Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) in South Florida within the Everglades ecosystem. The three areas, Everglades and Francis S. Taylor WMA, Holey Land WMA and Rotenberger WMA, encompass 736,881 acres. These WMAs provide important habitat for a diversity of imperiled wildlife species, including the Everglades snail kite, Everglades mink, little blue heron, tri-colored heron, snowy egret, white ibis, wood stork and limpkin, as well as native and abundant species like American alligators, white-tailed deer and marsh rabbits.

• FWC’s monitoring efforts include periodic wildlife and habitat surveys. FWC staff continues to watch water gauges to monitor high water levels and the impacts and stresses they may be having on areas like the Everglades tree islands, which are critical to the survival of Florida wildlife species. High water levels can seriously impact nesting and feeding activities of our native birds and make large and small mammals much more vulnerable to disease, starvation and predation. The condition of habitat on tree islands is an important indicator for the level of stress being experienced by wildlife.

• As of March 21, 2016, water levels within the three WMAs previously listed are approaching criteria for rescinding the special regulations that limit public access. Criteria for rescinding the special regulations is a combination of water level and wildlife observed on surrounding levees. Water levels in all three WMAs have continued to recede during the past week. If the recession trends continue, conditions should improve prior to the onset of the wet season.
  

Everglades WMA:

• Water level (average of 62/63 gauges) as of March 21 = 11.42 feet
• High water closure criteria = 11.60 feet
• Regulation schedule = 9.97 feet
  
• Average for this time of year = 9.99 feet
• Recession rate for the last week = (0.24) feet
• Water level trend over the past 3 weeks = dropping
  

Rotenberger WMA:

• Water level as of March 21 = 12.90 feet
• High water closure criteria = 13.50 feet
• Regulation schedule = 12.64 feet
  
• Average for this time of year = 12.25 feet
• Recession rate for the last week = (0.07) feet
• Water level trend over the past 3 weeks = dropping

Holey Land WMA:

• Water level as of March 21 = 12.04 feet
• High water closure criteria = 12.50 feet
• Regulation schedule = 11.34 feet
  
• Average for this time of year = 10.87 feet
• Recession rate for the last week = (0.08) feet
• Water level trend over the past 3 weeks = dropping
  

Wildlife surveys conducted on WMA levees and tree islands during the past week suggest use by wildlife has begun to decrease as a result of receding water levels in all of the WMAs. Typically this time of year (three months into the seven-month nesting season), we observe increased wading bird nesting, but so far, none has been observed. As of March 21, 2016, this high water event has lasted 52 days.

As a result of FWC’s continued observations, the special regulations that limit public access for the three WMAs will continue. As water levels drop significantly below the established criteria, wildlife will have delayed reactions and conditions typically do not improve for at least a week or more. Once conditions improve for wildlife, FWC will recommend an order to rescind the current special regulations.

Members of the public should report any distressed fish or wildlife to the following FWC hotlines:

• Wildlife Alert Hotline: 1-888-404-3922 or Tip@MyFWC.com
• Fish Kill Hotline: 1-800-636-0511

Salinity Conditions:

Caloosahatchee Salinity Conditions: Salinity (based on optimal conditions for adult oysters) is in good condition at Shell Point and Sanibel, and in poor condition at Cape Coral.

St. Lucie Salinity Conditions: Salinity at the U.S. 1 bridge is improving, and is in fair condition. The salinity at A1A is in good condition.

Rainfall Information:

In January 2016, South Florida experienced the wettest January on record since recordkeeping began in 1932. During the past three days, there has been 0.41 inches of rainfall over the region.

South Florida Water Management District's Rainfall Forecast:

Rainfall for the current week is forecast to be average. Mainly dry and cool conditions today. Returning moisture will bring limited shower activity back to the area Wednesday with scattered afternoon thunderstorm activity returning Thursday and Friday and then increasing next weekend.

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