WEST PALM BEACH – The Lake Okeechobee Component A Storage Reservoir (LOCAR) is on the discusion agenda for the Aug. 17 meeting of the South Florida Water Management District, at the District Headquarters, 3301 Gun Club Road in West Palm Beach.

The meeting starts at 9 a.m. It will also be live on the SFWMD channel on youtube.com.

The reservoir is planned in Highlands County and will hold an estimated 200,000 acre feet of water. According to the staff report, the reservoir will reduce high lake stages and store water during wet periods or when there is excess water in the system, and later use the water during dry periods when Lake Okeechobee water levels are low. The increased storage capacity will help to keep Lake Okeechobee within the ecological preferred band and benefit the lake’s ecosystem. In addition, the project will benefit the Caloosahatchee and St. Lucie estuaries by reducing harmful discharges from the lake as well as increasing available water supply for beneficial lake discharges to the Caloosahatchee River during the dry season.

Other items on the agenda include:

• The SFWMD Governing Board will consider a 5-year lease to graze cattle on 406.42 acres of land owned by the district in Highlands and Okeechobee counties. SFWMD received seven bids in response to the advertisement of the grazing lease. According to the SFWMD staff report, All Seasons Welding was determined to be the highest responsive and responsible bidder. SFWMD can terminate the lease with 180 days notice. Annual revenue will be $25,024.

• The board will consider a 5-year contract for lock tender services for 11 navigational boat locks in Glades, Hendry, Martin, Okeechobee, Osceola and Polk Counties. SFWMD is responsible for the operation of 11 navigational boat locks, five of which are located on the Kissimmee River Waterway from Lake Tohopekaliga to Lake Okeechobee and six are located around the perimeter of Lake Okeechobee. Staff recommends approval of a contract with Advanced Lock Tender Division LLC, the lowest responsive and responsible bidder in an amount not to exceed $5,896,640, subject to board approval of the 2023-2024 budget and future budgets.

• The board will also consider a 3-year contract with two 1-year renewal options with Huurr Homes LLC for grading services in the West Palm Beach Field Station and the Clewiston Field Station areas, in an amount not to exceed $1,107,561.84, subject to board approval of the 2023-2024 budget and future budgets.