Posted on October 29, 2025
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) Jacksonville District announces increased release targets at W.P. Franklin Lock and Dam upon the onset of the dry season beginning October 29. USACE and our partners at the South Florida Water Management agree that increasing targets now will help maintain favorable salinities in the Caloosahatchee River Estuary while continuing to conserve water in the lake.
Following the conclusion of Recovery Operations at the end of the 2024-2025 dry season, USACE conserved water in the lake to encourage the lake levels to rise slowly. Throughout the wet season, the minimum target at W.P. Franklin Lock and Dam (S-79) has been 250 cfs and local basin runoff on the Caloosahatchee River has provided well over that amount. As of October 11, the 2025-2026 dry season has officially begun, and lake levels are just under 14 feet NGVD.
Recovery Operations facilitated the regrowth of submerged aquatic vegetation over of thousands of acres and improved water clarity in the lake. Conditions look suitable for continued growth of these plants and continued habitat improvement on Lake Okeechobee next year. The USACE continues to assess system conditions and will be drafting an After-Action Report on Recovery Operations. More information about how to provide feedback on Recovery Operations for consideration in this report is forthcoming.
Over the last couple of weeks, conditions have become much drier, especially to the west of Lake Okeechobee and dry weather is forecasted to continue. Freshwater deliveries to the Caloosahatchee River Estuary control salinity, which is vital to the area’s ecology.
To maintain favorable salinities in the Caloosahatchee River Estuary while continuing to conserve water in the lake, the USACE will implement the recommendation from SFWMD and increase the minimum targets at W.P. Franklin Lock and Dam (S-79) to 350 cfs. This means that if basin flows in the river fall below 350 cfs, Lake Okeechobee water will be used to maintain 350 cfs in the river.
The USACE will continue to assess conditions throughout the dry season, coordinate with our partners and stakeholders and make adjustments to targets as necessary.
Contact
publicmail.cesaj-cc@usace.army.mil
