The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Jacksonville District, announces details for the public scoping meeting in Fort Lauderdale and the other meetings regarding the development of the new Lake Okeechobee System Operating Manual ( LOSOM ).
A series of National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) public scoping meetings are being held throughout south Florida during the month of February and public scoping comments will be accepted until March 31, 2019.
USACE is beginning preparation of a NEPA assessment for the LOSOM, which is required by Section 1106 of the 2018 Water Resource Development Act.
The purpose of this effort is to reevaluate and define operations for the Lake Okeechobee regulation schedule that take into account additional infrastructure that will soon be operational, USACE said.
The additional infrastructure that will be taken into consideration includes the Herbert Hoover Dike rehabilitation, Kissimmee River Restoration Project, as well as the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP) C-43 West Basin Storage Reservoir and C-44 Reservoir and Stormwater Treatment Area.
Public scoping meetings:
Fort Lauderdale Tuesday, February 26, 2019, 3:30 to 5:30 Broward County Main Library 6th Floor Exhibit Area 100 S Andrews Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301 Note: Meeting will run 3:30 to 5:30 with doors open at 3.
West Palm Beach Wednesday, February 27, 2019, 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. South Florida Water Management District Governing Board Auditorium 3301 Gun Club Road, West Palm Beach, FL 33406.
Miami Gardens Thursday, February 28, 2019, 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. North Dade Regional Library 2455 NW 183rd Street, Miami Gardens, FL 33056.
The public comment period ends on March 31, 2019.