Side effects of Fay and Hanna: More water for drought stricken Florida

Drought-stricken South Florida has found some relief in the past month from the torrential rains of Tropical Storm Fay, raising Lake Okeechobee nearly three-feet to a two year high. The rains from Tropical Storm Hanna are also continuing to fill the lake and reservoir — which surpassed 15 feet above sea level last week.

The Army Corps of Engineers, who use dikes to maintain the lake, began dumping extra rainwater into the ocean to curb strain on the 70-year-old levee system and prevent flooding in the region. The lake serves as South Florida’s backup water supply.

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Source Sun Sentinel