Alliance of Delray Takes on the Hot Topic of Lake O to Preserve Our Water Quality
SEE LINKS BELOW FOR INFORMATION ON THE HISTORY OF LAKE O AND THE CURRENT PROPOSALS
Currently the new Lake Okeechobee Systems Operations Manual (LOSOM) is being developed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Jacksonville District and public scoping comments are being accepted.
The Alliance of Delray Residential Associations is concerned with the suggested lowering of Lake Okeechobee to 10.5 ft. NGVD when historically and ecologically, the lake remains healthier at a 12.5-15.5 ft. NGVD. Further, the lowering to 10.5 ft. NGVD would have far-reaching effects including a profound impact and risk to the water supply for the residents and condominium and homeowner associations of southern Palm Beach County. Water quality will likely be affected bringing salt water intrusion and extremely low water pressure to high rise buildings. The impact to littoral zones of our lakes could be devastating producing uneven vegetative growth and a threat to fish and other wildlife.
We need a long-term schedule where careful scientific/ecologic evaluation would be used to consider lowering of the level in order to avoid disenfranchising our Delray Beach and other southern Palm Beach County communities.
Pursuant to the Everglades Restoration initiative, in times of water shortages, the State is obligated to respect certain compacts so the water quality that south Palm Beach County residents enjoy might not be restored as timely as expected.
The Alliance of Delray is encouraging its community leaders to submit comments on this important issue so that we can present them to our legislators on Palm Beach County Day in Tallahassee next week and follow through with a common voice to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers during its reevaluation and defining of operations for the Lake Okeechobee regulation schedule.
Maps and Diagrams of history of the flow and current LOSOM levels: Lake Okeechobee Flow History and LOSOM Levelsl
Link to LOSOM: Central and Southern Florida Project – Water Control Plan for Lake Okeechobee and Everglades Agricultural Area