Sanibel & Caloosahatchee Watershed Report – Regional Water Management Issues.
Lake Okeechobee Water Now Moving South.
The City Of Sanibel issued the following news release this evening.
“Upon being advised late this afternoon that Lake Okeechobee waters are now being sent south, sent into the Everglades National Park, Sanibel Mayor Kevin Ruane stated “Our prayers and our voices have been heard….the unprecedented volume of water that fell in January required emergency responses from the State and Federal government.
We especially thank Governor Rich Scott for his tenacity in addressing this critical issue. This change in course is possible only because many entities with varying interest came together for a collective solution.
We especially appreciate the efforts of our citizens and business owners that made certain that Caloosahatchee and our local waters are protected.” The water moving south into the Everglades passes through a reservoir which will clean the water. In the past this type of release to the south has only been permitted following hurricanes and tropical storms. The current release of water to the south is the first made in the typically dry season and required the cooperation of many federal agencies including the U.S Army Corps of Engineers, the National Park Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service as well as the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, the South Florida Water Management District and the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida.”
