Water levels in Lake Okeechobee have risen to nearly 16 feet.
The rising water levels in the shallow lake have prompted the Army Corps of Engineers to fully open locks around the lake to release water and protect the aging Herbert Hoover Dike. Corps officials plan to issue an updates on the water releases.
Weekly inspections of the earthen dike began last month when the water levels hit 15.5 feet. Daily inspections will begin if they reach 16.5 feet.
As of Wednesday, the water level in Lake Okeechobee stood at 15.99 feet.
The corps controls the dike and locks around the 730-square-mile lake. In the corps’ 2014 budget request, officials worried that water seeping through the dike could lead to a catastrophic failure and flooding.
Topics Florida
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