Army Corps announces public meetings for Lake Okeechobee Watershed study

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Jacksonville District announces a series of public meetings for the Draft Integrated Project Implementation Report (PIR) and Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the Lake Okeechobee Watershed Restoration Project (LOWRP).

Each of the following public meetings is scheduled from 6-8 p.m.:

Tuesday, July 31, 2018
Lee County Mosquito and Hyacinth Control Districts
15191 Homestead Road
Lehigh Acres, FL 33971

Wednesday, August 1, 2018
Indian River State College
Wolf High-Technology Center
2400 SE Salerno Road
Stuart, FL 34997

Thursday, August 2, 2018
Indian River State College
Williamson Conference and Education Center
2229 NW 9th Avenue
Okeechobee, FL 34972

The Corps proposes an above-ground wetland attenuation feature (WAF) and several aquifer storage & recovery (ASR) wells in an area north of the lake. The proposed plan also calls for restoration of 5,300 acres of wetlands in the area. The draft document was released for review on July 6, 2018.

“This plan provides additional flexibility for managing water north of the lake in a manner consistent with Everglades’ restoration goals,” said Lisa Aley, Planning Technical Lead for the Lake Okeechobee Watershed Restoration Project. “We hope that people join us for the public meetings, and look forward to hearing from people living and working in the area on this proposed plan.”

The Draft LOWRP Integrated PIR/EIS document is available at: www.saj.usace.army.mil/LOWRP/.

The Corps will accept public comment through August 20.