Lake Okeechobee is the second largest freshwater lake wholly within the boundaries of the United States. It is forty-five miles in average diameter,and approximately 730 square miles in area. It's about 10 ft. during times of high water ,with an average depth of 10 ft. In acreage ,It measures 467,200 square acres,an area that is large enough to hold 500,000 football fields.
The lake Okeechobee name came from two indian words "Oki" meaning water and "Chobee" meaning big.
In 1926 and 1928,hurricane waters destroyed the dikes on the lakes southern edge which resulted in thousands of deaths. Canals and levees were built and Lake Okeechobee was developed for use as a reservoir. Today the U.S.Army Corp of Engineers and South Florida Water Management District direct the waters via dikes,canals,and floodgates in order to protect against flooding,to prevent saltwater intrusion ,and to provide water for agricultural irrigation and drinking water supplies to large urban areas in South Florida.
Major sources of inflow to lake
* Rainfall - 39 %
* Kissimmee River - 31 %
* Harney Pond, Indian Prairie Fisheating Creek, Taylor Creek/NubbinSlough - 30 %
Major Outflows of water from lake are
* Evapotranspiration - 60 %
* Caloosahatchee River - 12 %
* St. Lucie Canal - 4 %
* Miami,North New River,Hillsboro and West Palm Beach Canals -18 % ( includes drainage south to Everglades )
Drainage: Drainage basin covers 4,600 square miles.
Herbert Hoover Dike :
* Completely encircles 151 miles of Lake Okeechobee with diking. Includes areas where diking extends away from lake along rivers and canals.
* Dike construction began in 1931 following two devastating hurricanes in 1926 and 1928
* Complete encirclement completed in 1969
* Levee consists of hard material,mostly rock
* Total cost of the dike was $ 60 million ( in 1930 dollars )
* Dimensions: 250 ft thick@ the base and a crown of 10 ft.
* Elevation : from 32 ft. to 43 ft
* Six hurricane gates located at the main canals and Taylor Creek
