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Lake Okeechobee Watershed Project

 Planning efforts are underway for the Lake Okeechobee Watershed (LOW) project, which aims to:

  ​• Improve the quality, quantity, timing and distribution of water entering Lake  Okeechobee      
  • Provide for better management of lake water levels
  • Reduce high-volume discharges to the Caloosahatchee and St. Lucie estuaries downstream of the lake
  • Improve system wide operational flexibility

One of the next steps for implementation is to identify opportunities to restore the quantity, quality, and timing and distribution of flows into Lake Okeechobee.  The LOW Project preliminary project area, where placement of features will be considered, covers a large portion of the Lake Okeechobee Watershed north of the lake.

Additional information available in the Lake Okeechobee Watershed Project's Frequently Asked Questions document.

Lake Okeechobee Watershed Project Area Map

Lake Okeechobee Watershed Project Area Map

BACKGROUND 

Water inflows into Lake Okeechobee greatly exceed outflow capacity, thus many times there is too much water within Lake Okeechobee that needs to be released in order to ensure integrity of the Herbert Hoover Dike.  At other times, there may be too little water within Lake Okeechobee. 

Lake levels that are too high or too low, and inappropriate recession and ascension rates, can adversely affect native vegetation, and fish and wildlife species that depend upon the lake for foraging and reproduction.  The volume and frequency of undesirable freshwater releases to the east and west lowers salinity in the estuaries, severely impacting oysters, sea grasses, and fish. Additionally, high nutrient levels adversely affect in-lake water quality, estuary habitat, and habitat throughout the Greater Everglades.

The Lake Okeechobee Watershed project will identify opportunities to restore the quantity, quality, and timing and distribution of flows into Lake Okeechobee.

What's New

PROJECT DELIVERY TEAM (PDT) MEETINGS 
Project Delivery Team (PDT) meetings enable federal, state and local agencies and tribal governments to provide their input into the Lake Okeechobee Watershed Restoration Project. Members of the public may attend PDT meetings and provide public comment at the end of the meeting.  These meetings will be held on a bi-weekly basis, unless otherwise notified.

October 25, 2016 - Project Delivery Team (PDT) Meeting
9:30 AM - 3:30 PM (ET)

Lee County Mosquito and Hyacinth Control District
15191 Homestead Road
Lehigh Acres, FL

The meeting will also be available via teleconference and Web meeting:

Call-in number:
USA Toll-Free: (888) 273-3658
Access Code: 8760581
Security Code: 1234

Web Meeting Address:
https://www.webmeeting.att.com
Meeting Number:  8882733658
Access Code:  8760581

* The first time you use the Web Meeting Service, you will need to download the client software. Web Meeting HELP & Software Downloads can be found at: https://www.webmeeting.att.com *

Meeting Documents:

  • Draft agenda is currently under development

October 5, 2016 - Project Delivery Team (PDT) Meeting
9 AM - 11 AM (ET)

Meeting Documents:

 

September 21 , 2016 - Project Delivery Team (PDT) Meeting
9 AM - 11 AM (ET)
The meeting was available via teleconference and Web meeting, and can be accessed at:

 

Meeting Documents:

 

 AUGUST 31. 2016 - South Florida Ecosystem Restoration Working Group-Sponsored Public Workshop

A public workshop is being sponsored by the South Florida Ecosystem Restoration Working Group to engage the public on the Lake Okeechobee Watershed Project.

9:30 AM - 4 PM (ET)
Indian RiverSide Park, Frances Langford Dockside Pavilion, 2nd Floor, 1707 NE Indian River Drive, Jensen Beach, FL 34957

August 24, 2016 - Project Delivery Team (PDT) Meeting
9 AM - 11 PM (ET)
The meeting was available via teleconference and Web meeting, and can be accessed at:

Meeting Documents:

August 10, 2016 - Project Delivery Team (PDT) Meeting
9 AM - 12 PM (ET)
The meeting was available via teleconference and Web meeting.

 

Meeting Documents:

PUBLIC SCOPING MEETING - July 26, 2016

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Jacksonville District hosted a public scoping meeting to discuss and seek input on the Lake Okeechobee Watershed Project. Interested individuals, groups and agencies are encouraged to attend the meeting to provide comments and ask questions.

6:00 PM (ET) - Open House
7:00 PM (ET) - Formal Presentation and Public Comments
Okeechobee Auditorium, 3800 NW 16th Boulevard, Suite A, Okeechobee, FL 34972

The Lake Okeechobee Watershed (LOW) project is a new planning effort aimed at improving the quantity, quality, timing and distribution of water entering Lake Okeechobee, reducing high-volume discharges to the Caloosahatchee and St. Lucie estuaries downstream of the lake, and improving system-wide operational flexibility.

National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) scoping comments are currently being accepted on the project through August 12, 2016, but comments will be received throughout the planning process. Comments can be sent electronically to OkeechobeeWatershedRestoration@usace.army.mil or mailed to:

Gretchen Ehlinger
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Jacksonville District
P.O. Box 4970
Jacksonville, FL 32232-0019

This public meeting was held in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), with the sole purpose of soliciting input on the project as it enters into its preliminary planning stage.  Input received during this meeting will be used in the development of the project’s NEPA report. This report will be included as part of the Project Implementation Report that, once completed and approved, will be submitted to Congress for authorization and appropriations.

    Ecosystem Restoration

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