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Lake Okeechobee recovery operations lower lake to about 11.1 feet; officials and stakeholders press for legacy-sediment plan
Summary
U.S. Army Corps and South Florida Water Management District officials said recovery operations lowered Lake Okeechobee to roughly 11.1 feet and have produced early ecological signs of recovery. Public speakers and commissioners called for a coordinated plan to address legacy sediment ("muck") on the lake bottom to support long-term recovery.
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and South Florida Water Management District officials reported at the June 6 County Coalition meeting that Lake Okeechobee experienced a planned recovery operation this dry season and has reached about 11.1 feet, producing early signs of submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) regrowth and improved estuary conditions.
The Corps’ acting ecosystem lead, Tim Geisen, said recovery operations under the Lake Okeechobee System Operating Manual (LOSOM) were launched in early December to encourage SAV growth and reduce the lake’s high water levels. “We were lucky and got some really good assistance and have gotten down to, right about where our target was,” Geisen said, describing improved SAV coverage in the northwest marshes and other early ecological responses.
The Corps and the District said monitoring will continue through the wet season and that an after-action report is planned to assess benefits and any negative effects from…
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