At Florida Bay Forever, our rallying cry has always been #SendTheWaterSouth. Our organization was founded in response to the devastating seagrass die-off of 2015 with laser focus on the EAA Reservoir. We rallied the voices of Monroe County to support sending clean water south until SB10 passed in 2017.
As we await groundbreaking for the reservoir (coming Fall of 2021!), we know that restoration will only bring some of the historic flow back to Florida Bay. We also know that it will take not only water infrastructure, but operational plans that prioritize sending water south.
Enter LOSOM, or, the Lake Okeechobee Systems Operating Manual. The US Army Corps of Engineers is currently in the process of updating the manual and in doing so, there is opportunity to maximize the flow of water south. This operational plan can minimize harmful and toxic discharges to the St. Lucie and Caloosahatchee while simultaneously providing the hydration we so desperately need on Florida Bay.
Sounds easy right? Not so fast. Just like the Everglades Agricultural Area Reservoir, there are special interests galore that would like to control water supply and not send the water south.
That’s why, we are honored to unite with our colleagues and friends across the greater Everglades; East, West, and South, to call upon the US Army Corps of Engineers to prioritize sending water south in the updates to LOSOM.
We will continue to keep you informed as the LOSOM process moves forward. If you would like to echo our calls to send water south to the Army Corps of Engineers, you can do so any time by sending a public comment via email to: LakeOComments@usace.army.mil.
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