LEE COUNTY, Fla. -- The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers says they will be sending water from Lake Okeechobee through the Moore Haven Lock, but they it's for research purposes.
They say they'll send 200 cubic feet of water per second through the lock, starting Wednesday, July 17. It will last for 8 hours a day over a period of 10 days.
They say they’re doing it to help with an algal bloom project going on near the lock. They hope the project will help find solutions on dealing with harmful algae blooms.
"The Corps' Engineer Research and Development Center is doing the important scientific research that's required to help us understand the dynamics of algal communities," said Col. Andrew Kelly, Jacksonville District Commander. "We hope the research that the Corps is working on right now, in partnership with other scientists and experts, will provide the answers we need to help us find solutions to deal with HABs nationwide, and even worldwide."
The Corps says that on July 13th, reduced the water flow at Franklin Lock in Lee County to zero cubic feet per second. The flow had been set at 450 cfs since June 1st.
The lake’s water level is reported at 11.47 feet on July 16th.
