St. Lucie Canal

The St. Lucie Canal (C-44) is a man-made canal built in 1916 in Martin County, Florida to divert floodwaters from Lake Okeechobee via the canal to the South Fork of the St. Lucie River and into the St. Lucie Estuary, a component of the Indian River Lagoon, which connects to the Atlantic Ocean. Resulting from this connection, restoration projects in the St. Lucie River are the northernmost component of the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan.

The C-44 has been a source of contention since its construction in 1916.

There are three major structures along the C-44: the S-308 lock and dam structure; the S-153 structure; and S-80 lock and dam structure. The St. Lucie Canal (C-44) can be referred to as the St. Lucie Canal, C-44, C-44 Canal, or the Okeechobee Waterway. The C-44 has a drainage basin of 185 square miles.

History

Construction began on the St. Lucie Canal (C-44) in 1916 and was completed in 1924. The original purpose of the canal was to allow for an improved way to divert floodwaters from Lake Okeechobee. The canal was originally designed to flow into Manatee Pocket instead of the South Fork of the St. Lucie River.

Records indicate that people have been complaining about the impacts of the C-44 since the early 1950s.

Description

The St. Lucie Canal (C-44) connects to Lake Okeechobee at Port Mayaca. The capacity for the St. Lucie Canal (C-44) is 8 feet and 9,000 cubic feet per second; the result of a the St. Lucie Canal (C-44) second deepening in 1949. In 1933, 16 fixed spillways were approved for construction to reduce shoaling.

Major Structures

S-308

The S-308 lock and dam structure is located at the western end of the St. Lucie Canal (C-44) and connects to the shore of Lake Okeechobee.

S-153

The S-153 is designed to discharge into the St. Lucie Canal (C-44). The S-153 regulates water levels in the Levee 65 Borrow Canal The Levee 65 Borrow Canal is located on the edge of Lake Okeechobee and north of the St. Lucie Canal (C-44).

S-80

The S-80 structure is a lock and dam structure located at the eastern end of the St. Lucie Canal (C-44). This structure was completed in 1944.

Water Flows

According to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, the St. Lucie Canal (C-44) flows both east to the St. Lucie Estuary and west to Lake Okeechobee "on about an equal basis."

In 1924, the original flow capacity was 5,000 cubic feet per second. In 1937, the canal was deepened to 6 feet to provide a navigable passage to Lake Okeechobee, and the flow capacity is unknown to this author. In 1949, the canal was deepened to 8 feet, which increased the flow capacity to 9,000 cubic feet per second.

Environment

One of the major problems resulting from C-44 is too much freshwater discharged from C-44 to the St. Lucie Estuary to control the water levels of Lake Okeechobee.

Estuary Salinity

Large discharges from Lake Okeechobee into C-44 cause salinity levels to drop rapidly, killing many species in the estuaries.

Turbidity

High flow rates result in erosion and the transport of sediment into the estuary that can smother benthic habitats. The increased turbidity also results in sediment filling navigation channels.

C-44 Basin

The C-44 Basin is 117,000 acres. Drainage from these acres into the St. Lucie Canal also create water quality problems for the St. Lucie Estuary.

Navigation

In 1937, the St. Lucie Canal (C-44) was deepened to 6 feet. The St. Lucie Canal (C-44) connects to the Caloosahatchee Waterway, which connects Lake Okeechobee to the Gulf of Mexico at Fort Myers, Florida.

Timeline

1916: Construction begins on St. Lucie Canal (C-44). 1924: Original construction is completed, providing a flow capacity of 5,000 cubic feet per second. 1937: the St. Lucie Canal (C-44) was deepened to 6 feet to allow for vessel navigation to and from Lake Okeechobee. 1949: the canal was deepened to 8 feet, which increased the flow capacity to 9,000 cubic feet per second.