WEST PALM BEACH (CBSMiami) — There is good news and not-so-good-
news concerning Lake Okeechobee. October 2011, ranked the
fourth-wettest October in 80 years of record-keeping in South
Florida, helped improve the lake’s water level. The South
Florida Water Management District said three major storm events
in October helped bring the lake from a level of about 11.1 feet
a month ago to about 13.7 feet. That’s still below the
historical average of about 15 feet, but a drastic improvement
for a major South Florida water source. All areas from Orlando
to the Florida Keys received above-average rainfall, with key
regions such as the Kissimmee basins and Water Conservation
Areas receiving a much-needed boost. Unlike last year, the lake
is rising instead of falling. October 2010 was the driest
October on record and now that South Florida is heading into the
dry season, long-term forecasts are once again calling for
below-average rainfall. The District is working to store as much
water as possible in anticipation of fu