Apr 10, 2008 8:26 am US/Eastern
Water Managers May Ease Restrictions
WEST PALM BEACH (CBS4) ―
A wetter than expected dry season has pumped up the water level in Lake Okeechobee and as a result, South Florida water restrictions may be eased slightly after two months of wet weather.
The staff at the South Florida Water Management District plans to recommend at a meeting on Thursday that water restrictions be eased to a point that would allow lawn watering and landscape irrigation twice a week for most of South Florida. If approved, the changes would become effective April 18.
"These recommendations are based solely on improved resource conditions," said SFWMD Executive Director Carol Ann Wehle. "Recent rainfall combined with our proactive water management decisions and widespread participation in conservation efforts have collectively brought us to this much anticipated point."
As of Wednesday morning, Lake Okeechobee was about 10 and a half feet above sea level; four inches higher than on this date last year.
Also, water levels in the three Everglades Water Conservation Areas in western Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade counties are near or above their optimum levels for this time of year and nearly a foot higher than this time last year.
In fact, above-average rainfall in February, March and early April has raised surface and groundwater levels in most areas of the District's 16 counties.
Not everyone, however, think the current modified Phase III restrictions should be relaxed.
"I think it sends the wrong message, I think that it encourages people to over water," said Peggy Green, an ecologist with Broward Community College. "I think it's a big mistake."
Green thinks we have a "false sense of plenty" because of all the rainfall in the last few months. Her best advice is to keep automatic sprinkler systems turned off and water only when necessary.
"We're so into convenience that we've lost the ability to use our legs to walk out and our arms to turn a little knob, it's not really that hard to do," said Green.
If the new recommendations are approved, lawn watering and landscape irrigation would be permitted on Wednesdays and Saturdays for addresses ending in an odd number; Thursdays and Sundays for addresses ending in an even number.
This recommendation would affect most homes and businesses in Broward, Collier, Glades, Hendry, Lee, Martin, Miami-Dade, Monroe, Okeechobee, Palm Beach and St. Lucie.
However, due to continued concerns about water resource availability, water managers will recommend that the one day a week landscape watering restrictions remain in place for the City of West Palm Beach and its water utility service area as well as in the cities of Dania Beach, Hallandale, Lake Worth and Lantana.
Water managers also plan to recommend that golf courses be allowed to use 70 percent of their permitted water allocation, an increase of 15 percent. Plant nurseries would be permitted to irrigate for an additional two hours daily.
Currently, Broward, Glades, Hendry, Martin, Miami-Dade, Monroe, Okeechobee, Palm Beach and St. Lucie counties are under a modified Phase III restriction which only allows landscape irrigation one day a week.
Until any changes are made, South Florida remains under
Phase III water restrictions.
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