South Florida Water Management District to lower water levels ahead of storm

PEMBROKE PARK, Fla. – The South Florida Water Management District is expected to start the water lowering process Friday ahead of anticipated heavy rainfall.

"We talked about a pre-storm drawdown where we'll actually lower our canals before the event leading here," Jeff Kivett, of the South Florida Water Management District, said. "One of the questions we're always careful about is how much we drop it down, so we won't drop down below that water supply line. We don't want to jeopardize the well fields or the future water supply if it doesn't show up and moves forward."

The South Florida Water Management District controls the water levels in the area's canals with its pumping stations. The goal is to estimate where the water levels should be based on rainfall predictions.

Water management officials said lowering the water level too much could put South Florida in even more of a drought, but not lowering enough could mean water overflow into places we do not want it, like backyards and homes.

Water management officials have submitted plans to the Army Corp of Engineers for the approval to lower water levels.

They expect to hear back later Thursday and are expected to start the water lowing process sometime on Friday.

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