Lake Okeechobee: Lake-O is back to normal mode

[StormTracker]

I haven't been around this thread in a long time. Sorry. Why is the lake so much lower? IIRC last year at its best was around 14.15'. I guess you guys are like us in TX with ongoing drought conditions. It looks like someone pulled the plug on the lake!!

Normally, operating levels for the lake are between 12.5 and 15.5 ft which is a safe range for the Herbert Hoover Dike structure. Little or no rain for the last couple of months, evaporation & water usage combined give us a lake water level under 12 ft! I'm pretty sure water restrictions are iminent!

Okeechobee Lake Elevations
06 MAR 2010 13.59
06 MAR 2009 12.59

[StormTracker]

L.OKEE
# LEVL=12.02
23:00EST 06-MAR-2011 Satellite

NOTE: All stages and levels are reported in NGVD29 feet.

[StormTracker]

L.OKEE
# LEVL=11.97
23:00EST 07-MAR-2011 Satellite
NOTE: All stages and levels are reported in NGVD29 feet.

Okeechobee Lake Regulation:

*Okeechobee Lake Elevation
Present= 11.97 Last Year= 13.54 2yrs Ago= 12.57(Official Elv)

Bottom of High Lake Mngmt= 17.25 Top of Water Short Mngmt= 11.82
Currently in Operational Management Band

[StormTracker]

L.OKEE
# LEVL=11.94
23:00EST 08-MAR-2011 Satellite
NOTE: All stages and levels are reported in NGVD29 feet.

Okeechobee Lake Regulation:

*Okeechobee Lake Elevation
Present= 11.94 Last Year= 13.55 2yrs Ago= 12.56(Official Elv)

Bottom of High Lake Mngmt= 17.25 Top of Water Short Mngmt= 11.82
Currently in Operational Management Band

[StormTracker]

Hopefully this cold-front dropped enough much needed rain to bring the level of Lake-O back up above the 12.50ft. mark!

L.OKEE
# LEVL=11.92
23:00EST 09-MAR-2011 Satellite
NOTE: All stages and levels are reported in NGVD29 feet.

Okeechobee Lake Regulation:

*Okeechobee Lake Elevation
Present= 11.92 Last Year= 13.55 2yrs Ago= 12.54(Official Elv)

Bottom of High Lake Mngmt= 17.25 Top of Water Short Mngmt= 11.81
Currently in Operational Management Band

[StormTracker]

L.OKEE
# LEVL=11.95
23:00EST 10-MAR-2011 Satellite
NOTE: All stages and levels are reported in NGVD29 feet.

Okeechobee Lake Regulation:

*Okeechobee Lake Elevation
Present= 11.95 Last Year= 13.55 2yrs Ago= 12.52(Official Elv)

Bottom of High Lake Mngmt= 17.25 Top of Water Short Mngmt= 11.81
Currently in Operational Management Band

[StormTracker]

L.OKEE
# LEVL=11.93
23:00EST 11-MAR-2011 Satellite
NOTE: All stages and levels are reported in NGVD29 feet.

Okeechobee Lake Regulation:

*Okeechobee Lake Elevation
Present= 11.93 Last Year= 13.58 2yrs Ago= 12.50(Official Elv)

Bottom of High Lake Mngmt= 17.25 Top of Water Short Mngmt= 11.80
Currently in Operational Management Band

[StormTracker]

L.OKEE
# LEVL=11.91
23:00EST 12-MAR-2011 Satellite
NOTE: All stages and levels are reported in NGVD29 feet.

[StormTracker]

L.OKEE
# LEVL=11.90
23:00EST 13-MAR-2011 Satellite
NOTE: All stages and levels are reported in NGVD29 feet.

[StormTracker]

L.OKEE
# LEVL=11.87
23:00EST 14-MAR-2011 Satellite
NOTE: All stages and levels are reported in NGVD29 feet.

Okeechobee Lake Regulation:

*Okeechobee Lake Elevation
Present= 11.87 Last Year= 14.02 2yrs Ago= 12.43(Official Elv)

Bottom of High Lake Mngmt= 17.25 Top of Water Short Mngmt= 11.79
Currently in Operational Management Band

[StormTracker]

L.OKEE
# LEVL=11.84
23:00EST 15-MAR-2011 Satellite
NOTE: All stages and levels are reported in NGVD29 feet.

[StormTracker]

L.OKEE
# LEVL=11.82
23:00EST 16-MAR-2011 Satellite
NOTE: All stages and levels are reported in NGVD29 feet.

[StormTracker]

Falling, falling, falling and not a drop of rain anywhere in sight! We're gonna need some heavy duty rain in the next few weeks to pull us out of this hole we're digging ourselves into!!!

L.OKEE
# LEVL=11.79
23:00EST 17-MAR-2011 Satellite
NOTE: All stages and levels are reported in NGVD29 feet.

Okeechobee Lake Regulation:

*Okeechobee Lake Elevation
Present= 11.79 Last Year= 14.09 2yrs Ago= 12.38(Official Elv)

Bottom of High Lake Mngmt= 17.25 Top of Water Short Mngmt= 11.77
Currently in Operational Management Band

[HURAKAN]

The situation is getting really bad and it's only going to get worse.

[vbhoutex]

When does rainy season start?

[HURAKAN]

When does rainy season start?

Usually in May

[HURAKAN]

L.OKEE
LEVL=11.72
23:00EST 19-MAR-2011 Satellite

NOTE: All stages and levels are reported in NGVD29 feet.

[StormTracker]

The situation is getting really bad and it's only going to get worse.

Yeah HURAKAN, you're right and down in the Redland area we're averaging 1 brush-fire a week! Next the authorities will be telling us we can't use fireworks on the 4th of July!

L.OKEE
# LEVL=11.76
23:00EST 18-MAR-2011 Satellite
NOTE: All stages and levels are reported in NGVD29 feet.

[StormTracker]

Technically speaking, we are now in a water shortage situation!!!


L.OKEE
# LEVL=11.68
23:00EST 20-MAR-2011 Satellite
NOTE: All stages and levels are reported in NGVD29 feet.

Okeechobee Lake Regulation:

*Okeechobee Lake Elevation
Present= 11.68 Last Year= 14.18 2yrs Ago= 12.35(Official Elv)

Bottom of High Lake Mngmt= 17.25 Top of Water Short Mngmt= 11.75
Currently in Water Shortage Management Band

[StormTracker]

L.OKEE
# LEVL=11.64
23:00EST 21-MAR-2011 Satellite
NOTE: All stages and levels are reported in NGVD29 feet.

Okeechobee Lake Regulation:

*Okeechobee Lake Elevation
Present= 11.64 Last Year= 14.23 2yrs Ago= 12.34(Official Elv)

Bottom of High Lake Mngmt= 17.25 Top of Water Short Mngmt= 11.75
Currently in Water Shortage Management Band