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Lake 'O' Remains Low Despite Recent Rains

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Oct 3, 2007 3:41 pm US/Eastern

Lake 'O' Remains Low Despite Recent Rains

Water Conservation Hotline: 800-662-8876

 FAST FACTS: Modified Phase II Water Restrictions

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WEST PALM BEACH (CBS4) ― South Florida's summer rainfall is not helping replenish Lake Okeechobee.

The South Florida Water Management District says that although water levels improved last month because of the recent rainfall, water levels remain near historic lows. District-wide rainfall remains below average for 2007.

The lake level has reached 9.96 feet above sea level, up only .045 feet since the beginning of September. It is 0.82 feet below its previous historic low set in 1956. A year ago, the lake's water level was 13.35 feet above sea level.

Water managers say Lake Okeechobee water levels have been setting new record daily lows for four months and South Florida may experience back-to-back water shortage years for the first time since the early 1980s.

"South Florida remains in a severe regional water shortage, with the heart of our system, Lake Okeechobee, still nearly five feet below normal elevations for this time of year," said SFWMD Executive Director Carol Ann Wehle. "Absent dramatic rain events in basins north of Lake Okeechobee over the next thirty days, we will almost certainly face a more severe regional water shortage in the spring of 2008."

The lake is a backup drinking source for millions of residents.

What does this mean to you? It means water restrictions are still in effect.

Extreme water shortage conditions persist in the Everglades Agricultural Area and in portions of Hendry, Glades, Okeechobee, Martin and western Palm Beach counties, which remain in full Phase III water restrictions.

Due to below average rainfall and subsequent low groundwater levels in the District's Lower West Coast, full Phase II restrictions remain in place for Lee and portions of Collier, Hendry, Glades and Charlotte counties.

Landscape irrigation in St. Lucie, Martin, eastern Palm Beach, Broward, Miami-Dade and Monroe counties remains limited to two days per week in most areas.

The SFWMD continues to encourage both residential and agricultural water users throughout the District to voluntarily reduce water consumption and conserve water.

(© 2007 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

© MMIX, CBS Television Stations Inc. All Rights Reserved.