Several people woke up early Friday to protest massive discharges from Lake Okeechobee.
Linda Curtiss stood with several other people in front of the Army Corps of Engineers office at the St. Lucie Locks.
The Corps announced Thursday it would begin releasing more water from Lake Okeechobee this weekend. Heavy precipitation has caused water levels to rise above 16 feet.
In an effort to lower those levels, the Corps will release water through the Moore Haven Lock located on the west side of the lake and the Port Mayaca Lock located on the east side.
Curtiss says she is not in favor of the plan but supports “Plan 6.” Plan 6 moves the flow of water from Lake Okeechobee south to Everglades National Park.
Supporters say it would provide the needed water storage, treatment and conveyance of water to the south, thereby avoiding harm to the west and east coast estuaries. The plan, however, requires thousands of acres of land to be purchased.
Curtiss says it’s a viable solution. “When they discharge I see dead dolphins, I see dead birds, I see dead fish.”