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The amount of water released from Lake Okeechobee is determined by a Water Release Schedule that primarily considers water levels alone in a 'Decision Tree'. This schedule is being considered for modification to manage the lake at a lower level (between 11 and 13 feet in elevation) and to allow operators to include the health of the estuary as a key determining factor in the timing and volume of discharges and which way they are directed (preferably much more volume to the south). Currently, due to drought conditions, the lake is at a level below ten feet.
The South Florida Water Management District and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers are responsible for the water release schedules and water levels within Lake Okeechobee. To find out the current lake level or amount of water being released into the Franklin Locks, you can access this information through the following sites:
http://www.saj.usace.army.mil/h2o/index.htm http://www.saj.usace.army.mil/h2o/reports/r-s79m.html http://glades.sfwmd.gov/mapwq/stationdata.jsp?station=s79 http://www.sfwmd.gov/site/index.php?id=482 http://www.sfwmd.gov/org/ema/envmon/wqm/cr/crindex.html
If you would prefer a graphic overview of Lake Okeechobee water levels and releases, that file is located below and is regularly updated.
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