The health of Lake Okeechobee – and the impact the lake will have in the coming months on the health of water down stream – is on the agenda of the Lee County Commission tomorrow (today). Representatives from the South Florida Water management District will brief commissioners on the state of the Lake. Susan Grey is director of the District’s Lake Okeechobee Division.

“The lake is in pretty bad shape, its probably the worst I’ve seen it since I started with the agency back in 1992. And it’s a combination of significant impacts from the hurricanes, coupled with high water levels and a very windy dry season which kept everything stirred up and in suspension.”

High water levels in the lake lead to releases into the Caloosahatchee River… which flows through Lee County and into the Gulf. Fresh water releases—aimed at lowering lake levels—also dilute the salinity in the estuary - and can contribute to environmental degradation.