Army Corps strategize to prevent Lake Okeechobee overflows

Reporter: Stephanie Byrne
Published: Updated:
FILE: Water being released from Lake Okeechobee into the Caloosahatchee River on October 29, 2018. (Credit: WINK News/FILE)
FILE: Water being released from Lake Okeechobee into the Caloosahatchee River on October 29, 2018. (Credit: WINK News/FILE)

Even offshore, a glancing blow from Hurricane Dorian could have an impact on Lake Okeechobee as it collects rain runoff from areas all around it.

The lake currently sits at 13.7 feet. Last night, the United States Army Corps of Engineers said it anticipates potential rainfall from Dorian could cause the lake to rise around 2 feet.

That rise of water levels would put the lake over the 15.5 feet threshold the Army Corps usually try to stay below. The Corps said it will halt releases during the storm.

But some people in surrounding communities say they have concerns about the increasing stress to the Herbert Hoover Dike, which is undergoing repairs following damages from Hurricane Irma.

The dike was built to protect the surrounding people and property from flooding. Dr. Deborah Misotti, founder and director of The Talkin’ Monkeys Project, Inc., said her biggest concern regards what happens with the dike.

“We would really like to know,” Misotti said, “how confident are they that this dike is going to hold?”

David Castro, who also lives near the lake, said the area had terrible storms a couple of years ago.

“Luckily, the dike held off and they’ve done a lot of repairs on it,” Castro said. “Truly not too much a concern.”

The Corps said it is watching Dorian closely. But the Army Corps told WINK News it has done pre-storm inspections and does not have concerns about the strength of the dike or potential storm surge impacting the lake.

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