how deep is lake okeechobee

Lake Okeechobee water levels vary dramatically; from season to season, month to month, and sometimes even day to day. The temperature of the water would be close throughout, therefore the wildlife present must all be creatures who can survive the temperature. Lake Okeechobee is unique because of its vast size (730 square miles), shallow water (9-ft average depth), high nutrient levels, and exten-sive marsh (147 square miles), which is heavily used for fishing, hunting, and birding. Northern Everglades and Estuaries Protection Program 3. Check out these two publications by Audubon scientists. The lake bottom is uplifted seabed. Depth. Fishing guides and resorts help out with that goal. From Port Mayaca you cross 451,000 acre Lake Okeechobee by either a direct route to Clewiston, or a longer route along the south edge of the lake called the "rim route". To maintain the lake’s depth, three locks were built to raise vessels from sea level on the Gulf Coast to the level of Lake Okeechobee, and two locks lower vessels back down to sea level on the Atlantic Ocean. Due to Lake Okeechobee’s shallow depths of 8 to 12 feet, and only averaging 15 feet above sea level, a direct connection to the sea would drain the lake completely. Ventnor, NJ 08406 With recent news that critical repairs to the dike are being expedited, Audubon celebrated this public safety project. From the Hudson River to Key West, FL, including the St. Johns River and the Okeechobee Waterway. This area is the land that is between Orlando and Lake Okeechobee. … Want more? In United States, it is considered as the seventh largest freshwater lake. These marshes provide critical habitat for birds like the endangered Everglade Snail Kite and host commercially and recreationally important fish species like bass and crappie. We can’t advocate holding more water in the lake and expect to see a different outcome than what Florida is seeing today. This guide features mile-by-mile navigation information, aerial photography with marked routes, marina listings and locator charts, anchorage information and expanded "Goin' Ashore" articles on ports along the way. The population was 5,376 at the 2000 census. Found on the far western end of the Preserve, there exists a unique feature in the state of Florida, with an equally unique history. Despite lake Okeechobee's size its actually quite shallow with an average depth of only 9 feet. These (2) things combined are the #1 determining factors that boaters must consider when planning their passage through the waterway. In 2017 Lake Okeechobee rose to 17 feet because of Hurricane Irma, and its impacts are still being felt today (including current algae blooms). Lake Okeechobee is a large, shallow lake located in the center of the Florida peninsula, about midway between Or-lando and Miami. Lake Okeechobee, especially Alligators sleepily sun themselves on the shallow shores and Great Blue Herons stand quietly waiting for breakfast to appear. It does not solve the current algae crisis, and it is a threat to wildlife, our health, our safety, and our tourism-based economy. It covers 1,900 km square or 730 square miles of area. Conservation Leadership Initiative Alum Reflects on Future Career in Environmental Movement, Audubon Science to Help Inform Army Corps Efforts to Combine, Speed Restoration for Biscayne Bay and More, Fish Sampling Provides Critical Data for Florida Bay, Finding Creative Ways to Get the Job Done at Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary, Audubon’s fact sheet “High Water Levels in Lake Okeechobee: The Threat of Disaster”, Audubon’s White Paper on the history of Lake Okeechobee’s ecosystem responses to water level management. When the lake rises too high (above 16 feet), the submerged aquatic vegetation in and around these marshes that would otherwise naturally clean the water, dies and decomposes- resulting in increased turbidity that makes lake water dirtier. Major natural tributaries to the lake are Fisheating Creek, Taylor Creek and the Kissimmee River. Legal Notices Privacy Policy. Some continue to place the blame of algae blooms on the shoulders of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers by falsely claiming that holding more water in Lake Okeechobee could prevent or end our algae crisis. Photo: Andrew West/The News-Press/part of the USAToday Network, Help secure the future for birds at risk from climate change, habitat loss and other threats. If Lake Okeechobee’s water levels were held even higher, future releases to the coastal estuaries would be done with even dirtier water! The waterway to and from Lake Okeechobee itself is a coffee-colored, fairly straight ditch. Mile by mile list of hundreds of marinas including information on courtesy cars, propane, shopping, CNG, approach depth, number of transient slips, phone numbers, approach directions and much more. But it’s important to help prevent a dike failure and for the safety of the residents living just south of Lake Okeechobee. Lake Okeechobee isn't deep, the average depth is 6.6 ft, the largest is only 9.8 ft. It’s replenished by rivers, the largest of which is the Kissimi River. Lake Okeechobee marshes can cover up to 150,000 acres, one-third of the lake. Privacy Policy     Because the lake is shallow (average depth is about 9 feet) and covers about 730 square miles, it doesn't take much wind to generate big waves. Okeechobee is a city in Okeechobee County, Florida, United States. To push for higher lake levels, some people even point to the important repairs being made to the aging Herbert Hoover Dike, which surrounds Lake Okeechobee and protects communities to the south. Waterway Guide Southern Edition is a must for exploring Florida's East coast, the St. John's River, the Okeechobee Waterway, the Keys, Florida's West coast and the Gulf of Mexico to Bay St. Louis, Mississippi. The bottom of the freshwater lake is above sea level. It’s the least you can do. A lot of plant life in the water around the shores that extended pretty far out into the lake where we were At by the pier. Waterway Guide Southern Edition (Florida ICW, Okeechobee Waterway, Florida GICW, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, & Texas). 10 crazy awesome facts about bass fishing on Lake Okeechobee that fans always ask me. There are several islands on the territory of the lake, the largest of them is Creamer. What YOU Can Do 11. The roots of Florida’s toxic algae conflict lie in 19th century ambitions to transform vast swamps south of Lake Okeechobee, viewed as “worse than worthless,” into productive farmland. The eastern reach of the waterway starts in the St. Lucie River, passes through the St Lucie lock and dam, and enters Lake Okeechobee through a lock at Port Mayaca. Peeling off from US 27 in Clewiston on the Lake Okeechobee scenic drive, look to the right for CR 720, a road that leads you back to the lake… and farther back in time. They love shoreline waters the most during the spawn, especially where there is enough vegetation around for protection. The dike is not going to be any taller, or anew, therefore advocating to hold more water in Lake Okeechobee post-repairs is putting communities back in harm’s way. It is the county seat of Okeechobee County. Available water depth may be temporarily impacted up to 1.1 feet by strong winds. However, it possesses enough diversity that the knowledgeable angler can usually be successful. Advocating to hold more water in Lake Okeechobee once repairs are done under the guise of sparing the estuaries and helping the environment is a false and dangerous solution. At over 430,000 acres, it is one of the shallowest large lakes in the world, averaging just 9 feet deep. BlueSeas The Army Corp of Engineers (USACE) takes daily water level readings of Lake Okeechobee and uses this information to compute the recommended draft for vessels transiting Lake Okeechobee along both Route #1 and Route #2. Lake Okeechobee and the Okeechobee Waterway (OWW) - where water levels share the top billing with bridge clearances. Drive it with care -- sharp turns, deep canals, and an absence of guardrails pose a constant risk (an alternative: stick with Highway 27). There are actually (3) stages of water levels on the OWW: those that are too high, those that are too low, or those that are just right (if there is such a thing.). High Water Levels on Lake Okeechobee often require that all locks be left open to assist the discharge of water to keep the lake below flood stage. Okeechobee is a prime example of a grassy lake that, at times, can be frustrating. The shallow waters support thousands of acres of scattered aquatic vegetation and the sheer size of the lake combines to offer a largemouth bass fishery that has few peers. Lake Okeechobee is a vast, but very shallow lake. A deeper lake is a disaster-in-the-making for the coastal estuaries to the east and west of Lake Okeechobee and for the communities that live south of the lake. Water Supply Planning 7. We visited Lake Okeechobee while in Okeechobee FL the lake is 40 miles long and 30 miles wide. These marshes provide critical habitat for birds like the endangered Everglade Snail Kite and host commercially and recreationally important fish species like bass and crappie. Best Management Practices 10. Okeechobee Route #1 (Cross Lake Route) Draft Recommendations - View or Download. It’s bad for people, birds, and the environment. Science 8. Lake Okeechobee Protection Plan Update – March 2014 [PDF] 2. Water depths and bridge clearances are as charted, currents are minimal to almost non-existent, and little to no turbulence in the vicinity of the locks and dams. The size of Lake Okeechobee is half of the size of Rhode Island. Subscribe to receive email updates about Audubon's conservation work and hear about opportunities to help birds in your area or nationwide. Spread the word. Of course, when fishing the “Big O” it’s all about that bass, and the lake is arguably the best fishery for … They also improve water quality by naturally cleaning water in the lake. Jim Howard of … Conditions are subject to change and mariners should remain alert and aware of the actual on water conditions. The recommended map study will show that there are over a dozen connecting canals, plus the Rim Canal which virtually encircles the lake. document.write('\u004f\u0066\u0066\u0069\u0063\u0065\u0020\u0040\u0020\u0042\u006c\u0075\u0065\u0053\u0065\u0061\u0073'), Okeechobee Depths, Water Levels, and Routes, Routes #1 and #2 Available for Navigation. It is called as the Big O, Florida’s Inland Sea or even the Lake. They also improve water quality by naturally cleaning water in the lake. Other Everglades Projects 4. Clewiston, on the 750 square-mile lake's southern shore, has the most to offer vacationers, especially those intent on hooking into the lake's legendary largemouth bass and speckled perch. The Okeechobee Waterway or Okeechobee Canal is a relatively shallow artificial waterway in the United States, stretching across Florida from Fort Myers on the west coast to Stuart on Florida's east coast. LAKE OKEECHOBEE — An airline pilot and two friends captured an alligator nearly 12-feet (3.6-meters) long on Florida's Lake Okeechobee. Water Reservations 6. The largest freshwater lake in Florida is explained on Facts about Lake Okeechobee. Your support will power our science, education, advocacy and on-the-ground conservation efforts. The drain is carried out using small channels of the biosystem. Last, but certainly not least, always check the weather before you plan a day of summer Lake Okeechobee fishing. Okeechobee Route #2 (Rim Route) Draft Recommendations - View or Download. The main goal behind the repairs to the aging dike is to make it safer, not to increase water storage in Lake Okeechobee. Additionally, there are reports that the water depth over the upper lock sill of the St. Lucie Lock is reduced when water is being discharged from Lake Okeechobee. Normal Water Levels allow for the best passage opportunities for the mariner transiting from one coast to the other. Help secure the future for birds at risk from climate change, habitat loss and other threats. As of 2004, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 5,784. Our mission is to conserve and restore natural ecosystems, focusing on birds, other wildlife, and their habitats for the benefit of humanity and the earth’s biological diversity. The Federal project depth for the Okeechobee Waterway is 8’ from the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway near Stuart, FL via Okeechobee Lake Route 1 to Fort Myers, FL, then 10’ from Ft. Myers to Punta Rassa and then 12’ to the Gulf of Mexico. Learn how you can become a citizen scientist or a volunteer at one of our nature centers today. The name Okeechobee comes from the Hitchiti words oki (water) and chubi (big). Fuel prices, transient slip fees, long-term slip fees, do-it-yourself yards, and haul out fees. must be managed on Lake Okeechobee to protect the health and recreational uses of the lake. It is not part of Everglades restoration and won’t help the environment. Lake Baikal is also the world's largest freshwater lake in terms of volume. Mayaimi, meaning "big water," is the oldest known name, as reported in the 16th century, by Hernando de Escalante Fontaneda. Water Quality Improvement/Stormwater Treatment Areas 9. The two reasons the water levels in Okeechobee fall is from evaporation and farming. The natural lake is the largest in Florida and in the southeastern US. E-Mail ~ Florida's birds and wildlife need your time and energy. 1. The Herbert Hoover Dike falls in the worst safety rating category from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineering and is classified as “almost certain to fail under normal operations within a timeframe from immediately to within a few years without intervention.” Even after repairs are complete, it is unlikely that this safety rating will receive a “normal” rating. Bridge clearances may be reduced and currents and turbulence will be at their maximum. Get the latest on conservation in Florida, A Tricolored Heron wades in an algal bloom along the wall at the Franklin Locks in Southwest Florida (June 25, 2018). Minimum Flows and Levels 5. Low Water Levels in Lake Okeechobee reduce the draft of vessels that are able to safely navigate the waterway. Okeechobee Waterway-Normal and low water levels, channel depths, draft restrictions, recommended routes, & restrictions based on current lake water levels. But rather than being a solution, holding more water in the lake would create new problems- threatening human life, risking the integrity of the dike, and worsening water quality. Depths were good as long as we stayed in the middle. Incredibly shallow considering its size – average depth is nine feet; 12 feet at its deepest point – Lake Okeechobee produces perfect environmental conditions for several fish species. 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