The U.S. Army Corps continues to encourage water conservation, as the dry season has produced only 50% of normal rainfall for the South Florida area.

“As we approach the end of the dry season, we continue to operate with the water conservation mindset,” Louis Alejandro, chief of the Water Management Section of the USACE Jacksonville District, explained in an April 3 media call.

 He said that although the area has received some scattered rainfall, drought conditions continue throughout much of the South Florida Water Management District.

Alejandro said USACE will continue to manage lake releases in conservation mode. USACE will continue to provide flow from Lake Okeechobee to the Caloosahatchee River through the Julian Keen Jr. Lock at Moore Haven. Flow through the W.P. Franklin Lock, which is more than 43 miles from the Julian Keen Jr. Lock, is a combination of lake releases and local basin runoff.

No water has been released through the St. Lucie Lock for more than a year. Lake Okeechobee water is released into the St. Lucie Canal (C-44 canal) at Port Mayaca to maintain the canal level for navigation and for water supply in that basin.

Lake water will also continue to be released south for water supply for environmental, Tribal and agricultural use, as well as the backup water supply for West Palm Beach.

Alejandro said the forecast may change. They will continue to watch the rainfall projections.

 On April 3, Lake Okeechobee was 12.02 feet above sea level, about half an inch higher than it was the previous week, and about 3 inches lower than it was 30 days ago. The lake is about 6 inches lower than it was at this time last year.

 Flow under the Tamiami Trail is averaging about 75 cubic feet per second, Alejandro said.

“We’re entering the last stretch of the dry season for 2025-2026, and are ready to adjust as needed based on the rainfall,” he explained.

Alejandro said Lake Okeechobee’s ecology appears to be improving.

“The SAV (submerged aquatic vegetation) has increased significantly since last year, and that’s a great indicator,” he said.

“So far, we have seen great feedback from environmental scientists on that,” he said.