Will Lake Okeechobee releases resume this week?
That is what thousands of people on the Treasure Coast and around the lake will be watching closely, as the releases impact everyone differently.
The Army Corps of Engineers announced it paused the releases, temporarily, to get more input from staff on all available options for moving water.
On the north end of the lake in Okeechobee County, some fishermen are hopeful the releases will resume, while Treasure Coast residents and business owners want the releases to stop as long as possible.
David King fishes for bait for a living.
The toxic algae that concern many people on the Treasure Coast is not his concern.
He says the rising lake levels, now surpassing 14 feet, harm vegetation in the lake.
It’s really affecting us because the vegetation’s not growing. So, we really need to drop our water level to let the sunlight penetrate the water to let our grass start growing,” King said.
If the vegetation dies, King says the need for bait declines, as fishing isn’t as desirable.
“Yea I’m seeing slower business because the fish aren’t biting as well because we don’t have as much vegetation here,“ King says.
But holding algae-laden lake water back, for now, is helping the St. Lucie Estuary.
“We sympathize with them. But, we can’t hold it forever, we’ve got to do something with it,” King said.
It’s only a fraction of the balancing act the Army Corps of Engineers faces as it aims to protect residents living near the lake from the threat of flooding.
