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Friend,
Last week, the Army Corps of Engineers announced that they were gearing up to unleash months of damaging Lake Okeechobee discharges on the St. Lucie River, the Caloosahatchee River and the Lake Worth Lagoon beginning December 7. With no firm end date, they could drag on into May.
Nearly half a year of polluted water and legacy toxins dumped into fragile ecosystems that are already suffering from the latest storm season isn’t just a potential environmental crisis — it could be a direct hit to public health and our water-dependent economies.
The move, recommended by the Corps’ new commander, Col. Brandon Bowman, has been proposed in the name of “Lake Okeechobee recovery.” But the Corps has conceded that there’s no guarantee it will lower lake levels enough to actually help the lake.
What we do know is this: — The St. Lucie River, which should NEVER receive water from Lake O, will be pummeled. And this decision will push dry-season flows to the Caloosahatchee over the harm threshold. The result? Significant, predictable destruction.
Thought LOSOM was the answer? While the new lake plan, enacted in August, aims to reduce discharges to the east and west coasts, it doesn’t eliminate them entirely. The Corps can initiate Lake Recovery Operations when the lake exceeds 17 feet, stays above 13 feet for 30 days in the summer, or if submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV) in the lake drops significantly below 11,000 acres. With SAV currently under 4,000 acres, the Corps can act — but it’s not mandatory. Given the massive loss of sea grass in the northern estuaries, it’s not reasonable either.
Take Action Now. Tell Col. Bowman this decision is a mistake. Demand that he reverse course and stop treating our estuaries like dumping grounds for polluted water. Send your message now using the button below. Let’s remind the Corps that we’re watching, and we won’t back down.
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