For more than three years, Friends of the Everglades has advocated for a better Lake Okeechobee management plan — one that prioritizes public health and prevents toxic-algae crises while delivering more clean water to the southern Everglades.
On Monday, we submitted formal comments to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, offering specific suggestions for improvements. Friends of the Everglades is working to ensure the stated operational intent for LOSOM translates into realized benefits when the new lake plan takes effect in 2023.
Read our full letter, including six suggested improvements to LOSOM.
As the letter states, the toxic-algae crises of 2013, 2016 and 2018 were avoidable catastrophes borne of water management decisions and nutrient pollution. LOSOM is poised to deliver some relief by addressing the water-management part of the problem. Friends of the Everglades encourages the Army Corps to embrace our suggested improvements and finalize this plan without delay. Doing so will improve our chances of protecting Florida’s public health and ecosystems.
Use the button below to read the comments in full.
