Caloosahatchee water management topic of Jan. 2nd talk

Save the date: 7-8pm, Wed., Jan. 2nd, Calusa Nature Center.

What is in store for water management of the Caloosahatchee and when? When does the Caloosahatchee get the water it needs in spring and not the huge dumps in the fall?. How is the Caloosahatchee now connected to and dependent on water management in Lake Okeechobee? What are the solutions?

Dr. Paul Gray will talk about the Lake O projects which impact the Caloosahatchee including repairs to and rehabilitation of the Herbert Hoover Dike, water storage projects at the Berry Grove/C43 reservoir site in Hendry County, the BOMA site in Glades County near Ortona, Nicodemus Slough, and restoration efforts at Lake Hicpochee. Paul will also discuss developememts in the Fisheating Creek and Kissimmee watershed and prospects for sending more water from Lake O south to the Everglades and Florida Bay.

What is the risk of a breach of the dike? What about backpumping? Is Lake O a reservoir or ecosystem? Can we have it both ways. How are the snail kites, wading birds, bass and pan fish doing after the drought of the past five years?

Biologist Paul Gray has been working on Florida's Lake Okeechobee for more than 20 years. The last 17 have been with Audubon.

Only 90 seats in the renovated Calusa Nature Center Planetarium lecture hall so make your reservations now... This event is free and open to the public. Calusa Nature Center & Planetarium is located at 3450 Ortiz Avenue, Ft. Myers, FL 33905