Army Corps releases Lake Okeechobee discharges to C-44 Canal for second time in a month

Katie Delk, Treasure Coast Newspapers
·2 min read
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Toxic algae is polluting the C44-Canal at the Timer Powers Park boat ramp in Indiantown, Wednesday, Aug. 9, 2023, at 14100 S.W. Citrus Blvd. The state found 800 micrograms per liter of microcystis aeruginosa in the cyanobacteria, commonly called blue-green algae, according to water samples the Department of Environmental Protection took Aug. 3.

Lake Okeechobee water — possibly containing toxic algae blooms — was released Tuesday to increase the level of the canal that runs through Indiantown, in part so farmers have enough irrigation water to pump onto their fields.

It's the second time in less than a month, and the last one sparked an algae bloom at a public park and boat ramp.

The Army Corps of Engineers released 91.7 million gallons of Lake O water into the C-44 Canal, an amount that would fill 139 Olympic swimming pools.

“Water users were apparently pulling water, and the C-44 Canal was down to 13.86 feet yesterday ... so [the Port Mayaca Lock & Dam] was opened briefly in order to get the canal back up to 14.01," according to Army Corps spokesperson Erica Skolte.

Lt. Col. Todd Polk previously has said permitted water users include:

If the canal reaches the maximum desired level of 14.5 feet, the Army Corps will open the St. Lucie Lock & Dam and discharge excess water to the St. Lucie River in Stuart, as it did for a few hours on Aug. 12. The agency released about 161 million gallons to lower the canal level, saying heavy rainfall had increased it to 14.5 feet.

Ironically, the Army Corps had released 8.7 million gallons of Lake O water into the canal for 10 days prior — July 25 to Aug. 1 and again on Aug. 3-4 — to increase the level from 12.5 feet to 14.5 feet to supply water users.

On Aug. 3, a toxic algae bloom was detected at Timer Powers Park in Indiantown, measuring 100 times worse than the Environmental Protection Agency considers safe for people and pets, according to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection.

After the South Florida Water Management District applied Lake Guard Oxy hydrogen peroxide pellets to the water around Timer Powers Park on Aug. 8, the toxicity level dropped from 800 parts per billion to 5.6 parts per billion by Aug. 9, according to DEP records and Martin County Ecosystem Restoration Manager John Maehl.

The Lake O algae bloom is decreasing, but still covered over 27% the lake Tuesday, according to the National Centers for Coastal Ocean Science's satellite image. The agency says cloud cover can lead to underestimations.

Katie Delk is TCPalm's environment reporter. Contact her at katie.delk@tcpalm.com or 772-408-5301. Check for updates @katie_delk.

This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Army Corps releases Lake Okeechobee discharges to C-44 Canal again