What would happen if Lake Okeechobee Dam broke?

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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Lake Okeechobee is also a key component of South Florida's water supply and flood control systems. Lake Okeechobee provides natural habitat for fish, wading birds and other wildlife, and it supplies essential water for people, farms and the environment.

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If this soil erosion is allowed to continue, it will eventually create large cavities in the dike. And those large cavities — with water from the lake running through them unimpeded — create a serious risk that the dike will breach, with large releases of water from Lake Okeechobee flooding the surrounding lands.

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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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A long term system was designed for the purpose of flood control, water conservation, prevention of saltwater intrusion, and preservation of fish and wildlife populations. In the 1930s, a larger system of levees was built around the lake.

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The water is dark water due to at least two factors: naturally occurring tannins and “muck”. 1. Naturally occurring tannins from decaying organic matter and tree roots create a tea-like color and clarity in the water.

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The flood will have a devastating impact on businesses, families and Florida's famous Everglades, which would suffer massive environmental damage. The lake sediment contains decades worth of chemical runoff from local farms.

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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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As a precaution, I'd say don't eat any fish from anywhere in the lake right now, said Paul Gray, an Audubon biologist who's been studying Lake O for 30 years. Even if you don't see algae in the water, there can still be toxins in the water because when the algae dies, the toxins remain.

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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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