12 Mar 2020

USACE continues work on LORS deviation

After he took charge of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Jacksonville District in 2018, Col. Andrew Kelly charged his team to look for tools that would offer different options for the management of water in Lake Okeechobee during times when harmful algal blooms (HABs) were present. Significant HAB events affected Lake Okeechobee and the coastal estuaries in 2016 and 2018. Jacksonville District engineers and biologists reviewed the Lake Okeechobee Regulation Schedule (LORS) and looked for potential tools to adjust operations in anticipation of possible future HAB events. Last summer, Jacksonville District rolled out a proposed deviation to LORS that would provide greater flexibility in the management of water with the goal of reducing the health risk to the public associated with HABs.

14 Aug 2019

Corps extends comment period on proposed LORS deviation

The Army Corps of Engineers Jacksonville District is extending the comment period for a draft Environmental Assessment (EA) and proposed Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for a proposed deviation to the Lake Okeechobee Regulation Schedule (LORS) 2008. The new deadline for comments is Sept. 5, 2019, providing the public an additional 15 days to review and comment on the proposed deviation that will provide the agency additional water management flexibility at Lake Okeechobee to help address harmful algae blooms (HABs).

6 Aug 2019

Corps seeks comments on proposed LORS deviation

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Jacksonville District is seeking comments to a draft Environmental Assessment (EA) and proposed Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) related to proposed changes to the Lake Okeechobee Regulation Schedule (LORS) 2008 that will provide the agency additional water management flexibility at Lake Okeechobee to help address harmful algae blooms (HABs) to the best of its authority. Comments will be accepted for 15 days from Aug. 6 to Aug. 21, 2019.

16 May 2019

Corps offers series of webinars on Lake O water management

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Jacksonville District will offer a series of lunchtime webinars to provide background information on water management in south Florida as it pertains to Lake Okeechobee and the region. Jacksonville District staff will conduct six webinars, the first beginning at noon, May 20. The intent is to provide information to the public on the Central & Southern Florida Project water management system as work continues on the new Lake Okeechobee System Operating Manual (LOSOM).