FORT MYERS, Fla. — The Lake Okeechobee System Operating Manual (LOSOM) likely won’t go into effect until 2024.
For five years, the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers has been working with Florida water experts to craft a new operating manual for how and when to release water from Lake Okeechobee.
Satellite images from June 7 show around 340 square miles of Lake Okeechobee’s 700 square mile surface covered with algae. U.S. Army Colonel James Booth revealed Friday plans to up water releases down the Caloosahatchee starting the following day.
Potentially toxic cyanobacteria (blue-green algae) can travel downstream to Southwest Florida communities during water releases fueling local algae blooms in cities like Cape Coral.
LOSOM is meant to improve overall water conditions in Southwest Florida by changing when and how much water is released during the rainy season. It was initially slated to be in use before 2023, but now likely won’t take effect until next year.
“We’re going through a process with the National Marine Fishery Service of consultation to get a biological opinion,” explained Colonel Booth. “That’s the key action that will allow us to get to the record decision, which is effectively the final federal action.”
The National Marine Fisheries Service, a division of NOAA, requested additional time to study and weigh in on certain environmental impacts delaying the LOSOM rollout.
Sanibel Captiva Conservation Foundation environmental policy director Matt DePaolis said the following in March when the rollout date got pushed back: “…while it’s unfortunate that LOSOM implementation has been delayed, we’re glad the potential impacts on red tide are being evaluated.”
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