The operating manual to layout how to manage Lake Okeechobee is now nearing the finish line, and it’s good news for the Caloosahatchee Estuary.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers announced Tuesday afternoon that it narrowed thousands of scenarios related to lake-level management down to one.
It’s all part of the Lake Okeechobee System Operating Manual (LOSOM).
The biggest benefit to Southwest Florida is the reduced Lake Okeechobee nutrient-rich freshwater discharges into the Caloosahatchee estuary.
And as we’ve all seen, those discharges can become harmful and lead to more algal blooms.
The Corps said they are at a very important milestone, but they aren’t done yet, “We still must develop the operational guidance that translates the modeling into a water control plan that is adaptable to the dynamic conditions we operate under in Florida, and we still have to go through the final reviews before we can begin using the new LOSOM. We are counting on all of you to help us in these last few steps, and I am confident you are going to be there with us at the finish line when we start reaping the benefits of LOSOM.”