When Looking to Solve Lake Okeechobee’s Issues, Follow the Science

 

With six million more Floridians expected to call Florida home by 2030, long-term, sustainable water policies are essential to ensuring that Florida’s natural environment is protected. Strong, science-based water quality standards now will protect Florida’s natural and economic resources for the future.

To date, the state of Florida and Federal government have spent billions restoring the Everglades and fixing Lake Okeechobee. The progress in Everglades restoration is undeniable. Now it’s time to finish the projects that are designed to store and treat more water throughout the Lake Okeechobee system. While much of the focus the past 20 years has been on south of Lake Okeechobee, it’s important to also focus on the north.

The science shows tremendous progress.

 

Florida Achieving Everglades Water Quality Goals

Latest data shows 90 percent of Everglades meets stringent phosphorous standards

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Maps provided by South Florida Water Management District
 

 

In Case You Missed It…

 

“Not only are the Everglades healthy, they are remarkably so: Tests show at least 90 percent of the Everglades, top to bottom, now meets ultra-clean water quality standards for levels of phosphorus of 10 parts per billion (ppb) or less as required by a federal consent decree and established under state law. Not only that, but 100 percent of Everglades National Park is below 8 ppb. Actually, 86 percent of the total Everglades is at 8 ppb.”

– Nancy Smith, Sunshine State News, November 4, 2016

 

“Currently pending congressional authorization, the Central Everglades Planning Project (CEPP) will construct conveyance features needed to send additional water south from Lake Okeechobee. It will also deliver more than 200,000 acre-feet of water south from the lake into Everglades National Park.”

– Jason Kirk, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, November 1, 2016

 

 

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Good News: Everglades Water Quality Up from Better to Almost Best

By Nancy Smith, Sunshine State News
November 4, 2016
Read More: http://sunshinestatenews.497elwb01.blackmesh.com/story/good-news-everglades-water-quality-better-almost-best

 

 

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U.S. Army Corps continues restoration efforts

By Jason Kirk, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Featured in the Ft. Myers News-Press
November 1, 2016
Read More: http://www.news-press.com/story/opinion/2016/11/01/us-army-corps-continues-restoration-efforts/93110914/

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