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Aug 25, 2008 10:10 am US/Eastern
Lake "O", S. Florida Taken Off Drought Status
MIAMI (CBS4) ―
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Lake Okeechobee is the second largest lake in the United States, was removed from drought status on Friday.
CBS
As parts of central and northern Florida still deal with flooding caused by Tropical Storm Fay, all that rain has led to one positive effect; the water level in drought-stricken Lake Okeechobee has risen to above 12 feet for the first time since January 2007.
As of Monday, August 25, the lake levels were at 13.41 feet.
On Friday, the U.S. Drought Monitor removed Lake Okeechobee from drought status along with the rest of South Florida.
Some South Florida locations and the Kissimmee River Valley saw between three and 12 inches of rainfall from the storm. It's not only important for the rain to fall directly into the lake but also west and north of the lake because it drains into the Kissimmee Basin. The Kissimmee Basin is where most of the lake's water comes from and authorities predict lake levels will rise even more as rainfall from Fay drains south from the Kissimmee Basin.
The lake is a backup drinking water source for 5 million people but its levels have been alarmingly low lately, less than 11 feet for 511 straight days during the sustained water shortage of the past two years.
Despite the rise in lake water levels, it does not mean the water shortage is over. Authorities say the lake was in the same situation a few years ago, before this crisis started. Consequently, the South Florida Water Management District is moving forward on permanent water use restrictions.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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