The South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) is conducting a Feasibility Study and …
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OKEECHOBEE -- The South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD), as the non-Federal sponsor for the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP), is conducting a Feasibility Study and Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Lake Okeechobee Component A Reservoir (LOCAR). The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Jacksonville District and the SFWMD are hosting two National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Scoping Meetings to discuss the study and receive public input. To maximize participation and increase engagement, the same meeting will be held twice at different times. Both meetings will discuss the same subject matter, and the public may attend one or both of the meetings.
Through this process, the SFWMD will explore opportunities for aboveground water storage north of Lake Okeechobee. The study area covers a large portion of the Lake Okeechobee Watershed north of Lake Okeechobee and will provide ecological benefits to the lake and the northern estuaries.
Date: Thursday, April 27, 2023 Time: 2 p.m. and then again at 6 p.m. Open house is the first hour of each workshop. Zoom meetings start at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m.
The purpose of this proposed reservoir is to store excess water in the northern watersheds and release the excess water at times when it is beneficial for the region. This increased storage capacity will reduce the duration and frequency of both high and low water levels in Lake Okeechobee, which are harmful to Lake Okeechobee’s ecology. With these improvements to Lake Okeechobee levels, the reservoir will also help reduce discharges from Lake Okeechobee to the northern estuaries.
