Gov. Scott requests ‘immediate action’ to address ‘Lake O’ water releases

FORT MYERS, Fla. – Gov. Rick Scott has requested the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on Thursday to raise water levels to help alleviate flooding in the Everglades Water Conservation Areas and limit the release of water from Lake Okeechobee.

In a letter addressed to Jo-Ellen Darcy, assistant secretary of the Army for civil works, Scott requested the Corps of Engineers to raise the water level of the L-29 canal to 8.5 feet so that “substantial volumes” of water can be moved from Water Conservation Area 3 to the Everglades National Park through the Shark River Slough.

“Moving water south out of the Water Conservation Areas will prevent the die off of wildlife whose habitat is currently flooded due to the heavy rainfall and also allow us to move more water from Lake Okeechobee south, relieving pressure from discharges to the Estuaries,” Scott wrote. “The wildlife in the Water Conservation Area cannot sustain prolonged flooding and the economies that rely on the estuaries need immediate relief.”

The state Department of Environmental Protection and the state Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission issued orders Thursday afternoon that would “deviate from permitted water management practices” and allow the Corps of Engineers to grant Scott’s request. The move would also improve salinity conditions in Florida Bay, according to a resolution issued by FWC.

The letter comes one day after the mayors of Lee County’s six municipalities held an emergency meeting to discuss steps to address the water releases. The group wants the Corps of Engineers to be more open in why and when they decide to release water from the lake, for state legislators to support the “Legacy Florida” bill that would provide more funding for Everglades preservation and for the community to fully support an effort where costs are expected to run into the billions.

Recent rainfall has resulted in record water levels at the lake, forcing the Corps of Engineers to release maximum levels of brown, murky water into the Caloosahachee River, which flows into the Gulf of Mexico.

The water releases prevent the dike that holds the lake water from being damaged or collapsing, which nearby residents say would result in an event similar to the levee breeches during Hurricane Katrina. But the dark water has created an eyesore for tourists and businesses along Lee County’s beaches.

More than 3.7 billion gallons of lake water is being released daily into the Caloosahatchee River. About 2 billion gallons are also being released to the east coast through the St. Lucie River.

The Corps of Engineers have said they cannot afford to stop the releases because water levels rise even after rainfall has stopped.

“I have instructed the Department of Environmental Protection and the South Florida Water Management District to devote all necessary resources to provide relief for this region,” Scott wrote in conclusion. “The State of Florida stands ready to address this situation. However, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is critical to this equation and your immediate action is essential.”

The Corps of Engineers did not immediately return a request for comment.