As part of the Chamber's Southwest Florida Regional Water Futures Roundtable, we bring you a monthly newsletter on water issues in SWFL.

USACE Finalizes New Operating Manual for Lake O Water Releases

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) has recently finalized the Lake Okeechobee System Operating Manual (LOSOM), outlining new water release schedules for Lake Okeechobee

What is LOSOM?

• LOSOM is a new regulation schedule for Lake Okeechobee, replacing the previous Lake Okeechobee Regulation Schedule (LORS08).
• It is part of an updated Water Control Plan (WCP) and aims to balance various project purposes, including flood risk management, water supply, wildlife enhancement, navigation, and recreation.
• LOSOM considers completed or nearly completed Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP) projects and corresponds with the completion of the Herbert Hoover Dike (HHD) rehabilitation.
• The final environmental impact statement for LOSOM was published in the Federal Register, subject to public and agency review.

How has the Operational Philosophy Changed?

• LOSOM represents a significant shift in operational philosophy, emphasizing a system-wide benefits approach.
• It evaluates alternative regulation schedules and their environmental effects, considering input from stakeholders and the public.

What is the Implementation Timeline & Geographic Reach?

• Implementation of LOSOM regulations is expected by August 2024.
• The plan will govern lake releases and operations in portions of Glades, Martin, Palm Beach, Hendry, Lee, St. Lucie, and Okeechobee counties in Florida, with potential effects extending to other counties like Broward, Miami-Dade, Monroe, and Collier.

The Lake Okeechobee System Operating Manual (LOSOM) is expected to have significant implications for water releases to the Caloosahatchee River, including:

Reduced Harmful Releases:

• The updated LOSOM model aims to reduce harmful water releases from Lake Okeechobee into the Caloosahatchee.
• Specifically, the Army Corps of Engineers has detailed a 35% reduction in water releases from Lake Okeechobee to the Caloosahatchee.
•  Instead of sending more water eastward, the plan prioritizes conveying water south to the Everglades.

Operational Flexibility:

•  LOSOM provides operational flexibility to avoid some of the worst ramifications from harmful algal blooms (HABs) in the northern estuaries.
• While it won’t solve all problems, it aims to lower the number of damaging discharges that transport polluted lake water into the estuarine ecosystems.