Lake O Level Too High, Lake Full of Harmful Toxic Algae Spells Ominous Summer Ahead for Fishing in Southern IRL

By Ed Killer

The level of Lake Okeechobee is at 14.01 feet above sea level on June 9. That’s about 1.5 feet above where the Army Corps of Engineers wants the lake level on this date of the year, a week after hurricane season has already officially begun June 1.

A foot and a half? What’s the big worry, Ed?

Times that foot and a half by 730 square miles. That’s what makes a little bit of water suddenly sound like a lot. It’ll take the Army Corps six months to shed that much water off the surface of Lake Okeechobee.

Discharges from the lake are in the “when” column, not the “if” column. These numbers are why it matters to boaters, fishers and anyone who spends time along the waterfront in Stuart, Palm City southern Port St. Lucie or Jensen Beach:

• 2013 - Level of Lake O on June 1: 13 feet, 25 inches. Total discharge volume to St. Lucie River: 136.4 billion gallons, 6 months

• 2016 - Level of Lake O on June 1: 14 feet 3 inches. Total discharge volume to St. Lucie River: 218.9 billion gallons, 10 months

• 2018 - Level of Lake O on June 1: 14 feet 1 inch. Total discharge volume to St. Lucie River: 80 billion gallons, 5 months

In all three cases toxic algae was moved from Lake O to the St. Lucie River where it was visible for months. In 2016, it was so bad, Martin County emergency management officials were forced to close its public beaches for a few weeks around Fourth of July holiday weekend. The economic impact could not be measured, but millions of dollars of potential revenue was lost each year as fishing charters were canceled, kayak stores and tackle shops went out of business and hotel rooms went unbooked.

I’m not a soothsayer or oracle. But I have been living in the shadow of Lake Okeechobee for 50 years. The Corps will be the first to tell you there are only two mechanisms to discharge water quickly from the lake - through the Caloosahatchee River to the west and through the St. Lucie River to the east. Even then, the agency will tell you water can come into the lake 6-times faster than they can get rid of it.

The algae is hard to forecast. It’s in toxic concentrations one day, then 10 miles away the next day it’s not.

The looming question remains for those of us downstream: Will the Army Corps dump toxic algae-laden water onto coastal residents? Well, I guess we have to go to Clint Eastwood for the answer to that question. The lake’s high level is like Dirty Harry’s .44 magnum pointed at our heads:

“I know in all the excitement you’re wondering if I squeezed off six shots or five. To be honest, I can’t remember myself. So ask yourself one question - Do you feel lucky punk? Well, do ya?”

For our sakes, and with all due respect to Clint, I hope we’re lucky enough not to have another summer where the St. Lucie River is full of harmful algae.