diff --git a/physics/GFS_surface_composites_pre.F90 b/physics/GFS_surface_composites_pre.F90
index a8b0a3112..209bbd424 100644
--- a/physics/GFS_surface_composites_pre.F90
+++ b/physics/GFS_surface_composites_pre.F90
@@ -238,21 +238,6 @@ subroutine GFS_surface_composites_pre_run (im, lkm, frac_grid,
         if (nint(slmsk(i)) /= 1) slmsk(i)  = islmsk(i)
       enddo
 
-! to prepare to separate lake from ocean under water category
-      do i = 1, im
-        if ((wet(i) .or. icy(i)) .and. lakefrac(i) > zero) then
-          lake(i) = .true.
-          if (lkm == 1 .and. lakefrac(i) >= 0.15 .and. lakedepth(i) > one) then
-            use_flake(i) = .true.
-          else
-            use_flake(i) = .false.
-          endif
-        else
-          lake(i) = .false.
-          use_flake(i) = .false.
-        endif
-      enddo
-!
       if (frac_grid) then
         do i=1,im
           if (dry(i)) then
diff --git a/physics/radiation_surface.f b/physics/radiation_surface.f
index 299f2e92c..e6cf93d5d 100644
--- a/physics/radiation_surface.f
+++ b/physics/radiation_surface.f
@@ -976,7 +976,7 @@ subroutine setemis                                                &
                 sfcemis_ice = semis_ice(i) ! output from CICE
               endif
             elseif (lsm == lsm_ruc) then
-              if (use_flake(i)) then
+!              if (use_flake(i)) then
                 if (sncovr_ice(i) > f_zero) then
                   sfcemis_ice = emsref(7) * (f_one-sncovr_ice(i))       &
      &                        + emsref(8) * sncovr_ice(i)
@@ -990,7 +990,7 @@ subroutine setemis                                                &
                 semis_ice(i) = sfcemis_ice
               else
                 sfcemis_ice = semis_ice(i) ! output from CICE or from RUC lsm (with snow effect)
-              endif
+!              endif
             endif ! lsm check
           endif ! icy
 
diff --git a/physics/scm_sfc_flux_spec.F90 b/physics/scm_sfc_flux_spec.F90
index c55c3b72a..35ea03a99 100644
--- a/physics/scm_sfc_flux_spec.F90
+++ b/physics/scm_sfc_flux_spec.F90
@@ -52,7 +52,7 @@ end subroutine scm_sfc_flux_spec_init
   subroutine scm_sfc_flux_spec_run (im, u1, v1, z1, t1, q1, p1, roughness_length, spec_sh_flux, spec_lh_flux, &
     exner_inverse, T_surf, cp, grav, hvap, rd, fvirt, vonKarman, tgice, islmsk, dry, frland, cice, icy, tisfc,&
     oceanfrac, min_seaice, cplflx, cplice, flag_cice, wet, min_lakeice, tsfcl, tsfc_wat, slmsk, lakefrac, lkm,&
-    lakedepth, use_flake, sh_flux, lh_flux, sh_flux_chs, u_star, sfc_stress, cm, ch, &
+    lakedepth, sh_flux, lh_flux, sh_flux_chs, u_star, sfc_stress, cm, ch, &
     fm, fh, rb, u10m, v10m, wind1, qss, t2m, q2m, errmsg, errflg)
 
     use machine,             only: kind_phys
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ subroutine scm_sfc_flux_spec_run (im, u1, v1, z1, t1, q1, p1, roughness_length,
     integer, intent(in)    :: im, lkm
     integer, intent(inout) :: islmsk(:)
     logical, intent(in)    :: cplflx, cplice
-    logical, intent(inout) :: dry(:), icy(:), flag_cice(:), wet(:), use_flake(:)
+    logical, intent(inout) :: dry(:), icy(:), flag_cice(:), wet(:)
     real(kind=kind_phys), intent(in)    :: cp, grav, hvap, rd, fvirt, vonKarman, min_seaice, tgice, min_lakeice
     real(kind=kind_phys), intent(in)    :: u1(:), v1(:), z1(:), t1(:), q1(:), p1(:), roughness_length(:), &
       spec_sh_flux(:), spec_lh_flux(:), exner_inverse(:), T_surf(:), oceanfrac(:), lakefrac(:), lakedepth(:)
@@ -207,20 +207,6 @@ subroutine scm_sfc_flux_spec_run (im, u1, v1, z1, t1, q1, p1, roughness_length,
       tisfc(i) = max(timin, min(tisfc(i), tgice))
     end if
   end do
-
-! to prepare to separate lake from ocean under water category
-  do i = 1, im
-    if ((wet(i) .or. icy(i)) .and. lakefrac(i) > 0.0_kind_phys) then
-      if (lkm == 1 .and. lakefrac(i) >= 0.15 .and. lakedepth(i) > 1.0_kind_phys) then
-        use_flake(i) = .true.
-      else
-        use_flake(i) = .false.
-      endif
-    else
-      use_flake(i) = .false.
-    endif
-  enddo
-!
   
   end subroutine scm_sfc_flux_spec_run