The water level in Lake Okeechobee is a critical indicator of the overall water situation in South Florida. The current drought has severely impacted the water levels of the lake. To see what's happened to the water level in the lake over the last year, click here . The captain of a 92-foot yacht said that he ran aground in a Lake Okeechobee channel while motoring across the state from Sanibel Island to the Atlantic Ocean in January. Fishermen are complaining the lake level is so low it's hurting business.
Fishermen are upset about the low water levels too.
Last year, fishermen and environmentalists complained the lake level was too high and the excess water was killing off indigenous grasses where fish spawn. The South Florida Water Management District gradually lowered the lake last spring from almost 15 feet to 13 feet in anticipation of hurricane season, but it was a dryer than expected summer. The lake level now is below 11 feet and water managers are predicting the lake could drop to 9.6 feet by May, which would be the lowest level since 1981. Ken Ammon, director of water supply for the water management district, attributes the drop in the water to a dry season in the Kissimmee Valley last year. But in the long run, the drought may help the fishing industry, Ammon said.