USGS Water-Year Summary 2024

02276400 LAKE OKEECHOBEE, FL

LOCATION - Lat 26°57'00", long 80°50'00" referenced to North American Datum of 1927, Palm Beach County, FL, Hydrologic Unit 03090201, Center of lake, in southern Florida.

DRAINAGE AREA - 5,650 mi².

REVISIONS HISTORY - WRD FL-1969: Surface area. WDR FL-77-1: capacity table.

SURFACE-WATER RECORDS

PERIOD OF RECORD - April 1912 to September 2021 (discontinued). Monthly gage readings for period of record April 1912 to April 1915, twice-monthly readings for period May 1915 to December 1929, and daily gage readings for period January 1930 to September 1931 are from several sources including the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and South Florida Water Management District.

GAGE - Four water-stage recorders at various locations around the lake. From Oct. 1, 2000 to Mar. 14, 2001, ten water-stage recorders at various locations around the rim of the lake. Datum of gages is at NGVD of 1929 (levels by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers). See WDR FL-00-1A for history of changes prior to Oct. 1, 2000.

COOPERATION - Records of elevations and capacity table provided by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

REMARKS - Surface area 436,000 acres (681 mi²) at elevation 14 ft above NGVD of 1929, from data provided by U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Lake is diked to form a reservoir and is regulated by control structure gates at several outlets. It is used for navigation, municipal water supply, irrigation, and flood control. Total usable capacity is 2,860,000 acre-ft between elevations 10.5 and 17.5 ft. Daily elevations are an average of the eight gage readings from the interior of the lake.

EXTREMES FOR PERIOD OF RECORD - Maximum elevation observed, 20.2 ft, September and November 1912; minimum daily, 8.82 ft, July 2, 2007.