Is Lake Okeechobee drying?

Lake Okeechobee is getting lower during dry season, but how low will it go? Ever so slightly, ever so slowly, Lake Okeechobee's water level is creeping lower. Hundredth of an inch by hundredth of an inch. Which is a lot, considering the massive lake is 730 square miles in size.



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The Florida Department of Health advises against it, according to its website. Fish tested from water with blue-green algae show that cyanotoxins don't accumulate much in the edible parts — muscle or fillet — of fish, but can in other organs, its website says. The safest choice is to not harvest or eat these fish.

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About 2,500 acres of estuaries are polluted, accounting for 99% of the total assessed. A big driverof that is Lake Okeechobee, which covers about 450,000 square acres and has been polluted by decades of agricultural and stormwater runoff.

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The lake, at 730 square miles and an average depth of only 10 feet, begins to flood the surrounding communities. Eventually, much of South Florida will be inundated. U.S. highways 441 and 98, and state roads 715 and 80 are destroyed by the slow-moving water.

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The Okeechobee Utility Authority usually pulls 2.5 million gallons per day from the lake. They can also pull from the Rim Canal nearby as a backup option. In about 15 to 20 minutes, raw lake water is drinkable.

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“The Storm of 1928” pushes water out of Lake Okeechobee. Several thousand people drown in the small farming communities bordering its southern rim. Wind tides on the lake cause such deadly overflows that the state forms the Okeechobee Drainage District to prevent future destruction.

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Lake Okeechobee historically and naturally overflowed south to the thirsty Everglades, until farms, towns and homesteads developed, creating an obstacle for that water.

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Visiting Lake Okeechobee is worth it for many folks interested in fishing, nature, hiking, and other outdoor activities. It is not, however, an experience for those who wish to go swimming, wading, or otherwise come into contact with the water. The alligators alone make the lake a dangerous spot.

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Lake Okeechobee is known for its superior fishing for Large Mouth Bass and Speckled Perch. Each year the lake is visited by thousands of anglers and water fowl hunters to enjoy one of our natural resources. Visitors also visit Lake Okeechobee to photograph the flora and fauna and breathtaking views of the area.

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