Florida lake's water drops to record low

MIAMI — The water level in the lake that serves as the main backup water supply for 5 million South Florida residents dropped to a record low Thursday as firefighters continued battling a blaze on part of the exposed lake bottom.

Lake Okeechobee was at 8.94 feet, surpassing the mark of 8.97 feet set during a 2001 drought, the South Florida Water Management District reported. The average level should be about 13 feet this time of year.

"There is no joy over this record-breaking event," said Carol Ann Wehle, the district's executive director. Record-keeping on the lake's levels began in 1931.

Meanwhile, a fire burning on part of the parched lake bed grew, amid windy conditions. It has burned 39 square miles, but no structures were in danger, Division of Forestry spokesman Patrick Mahoney said.

Lake Okeechobee, one of the largest lakes in the United States, is the liquid heart of the Everglades. South Florida is largely dependent on the 730-square-mile lake during dry periods, when it can be used as a reservoir if wells from underground aquifers get too low.

Rainfall directly over the lake has been sparse enough to qualify this drought as a one-in-100-year event, the district said. Just 40 inches of rain have fallen on the region in the past 18 months, about half the average amount, water managers said.

"If South Florida wants to get out of a crisis situation ... , we need the lake to rise 5 feet," Wehle said.

The drought has forced stringent water restrictions on homes and businesses in 13 counties.