Feb 4, 2008 9:27 am US/Eastern
Lake "O" Navigation Lock Closed Due To Low Water
WEST PALM BEACH (CBS4) ―
-
-
Lake Okeechobee is the second lafrgest lake in the United States, the headwaters of The Everglades, and the source of most of South Florida's drinking water. It's also in crisis, shrunken by drought to the lowest levels in recorded history.
CBS
A navigation lock that lets boaters pass between Lake Okeechobee and the Kissimmee River has been shutdown and will be closed indefinitely.
Low water levels inside the lock chamber have caused the concrete sill at the entrance and the manatee protection device installed in the bottom of the lock chamber to become a navigation hazard. Additionally, the lakeward approach to the navigation lock has become to shallow for boaters to navigate safely.
As of Monday Feb. 4th, the lake's water level is 10.07 feet, which is more than 4 feet below the historical average for this time of year.
The South Florida Water Management District closed the lock from May 31st to October fifth because of low water.
The navigation lock will not reopen until water levels in Lake Okeechobee have returned to safe operating levels.
Mandatory water restrictions remain in effect across South Florida.
Click Here to see South Florida's Phase III Water Restrictions.
(© 2009 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
Click to enlarge
Stumble It!
