IRLNews:2021-06-18 Indian Riverkeeper Lake Okeechobee Call to Action
Here is Mr. Connor's Call to Action:
We have reached a historic point in our battle to put an end to the destruction of the St. Lucie River and lower Indian River Lagoon. Your voice and direct input can determine the way that Lake Okeechobee is managed from this point forward by the Army Corps of Engineers (USACOE). Right now, along with us, you can put an end to harmful Lake Okeechobee discharges that pollute and poison our estuaries, and put you and your family's personal health at risk.
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACOE) is now formulating a new operational schedule to manage the waters in Lake Okeechobee, and we must demand adoption of a new plan that will stop the discharges to the northern estuaries and send clean water south to the Everglades and Florida Bay.
Many arduous months of planning and model-running by the USACOE has resulted in 5 alternatives for consideration in arriving at a final plan—the Lake Okeechobee Systems Operational Manual (LOSOM).
Of alternative plans AA, BB, CC, DD and EE, the environmental community and veteran scientists are unified in requesting that the USACE selects plan CC. This plan, with some alterations, will best protect our estuaries and send much-needed clean, fresh water south to the Everglades, especially in the dry season.
We want this plan to eliminate all Lake Okeechobee regulatory releases to the St. Lucie estuary and lower Indian River Lagoon, the Lake Worth Lagoon and the Caloosahatchee River estuary on Florida's Gulf Coast.
When you consider the fact that past Lake Okeechobee discharges have routinely delivered harmful levels of toxic microcystin as much as 10 to 100 times the 8 parts per billion threshold established by the World Health Organization for safe human contact, we say enough is enough!
When you consider the marine life loss caused by the outrageous tonnage of sediment, phosphorus, nitrogen, herbicides, pesticides, heavy metals and more that make up this toxic stew sent from Lake Okeechobee, we say enough is enough!
And let's insist that the South Florida Water Management District's Executive Director and governing board (SFWMD) supports Alternative CC as well.
The final plan (alternative) adopted by the USACOE for the management of Lake Okeechobee will be in place for the next 10 years!
Look back at the last 10 years and ask yourself if our public waterways have improved or declined.
If you believe they have declined, as we most certainly do, we ask that you add your voice to that of the Indian Riverkeeper by emailing: LakeOComments@usace.army.mil
Please email by deadline of June 29.
Respectfully,
Mike Conner, Executive Director, and IRK Board of Directors
Support LOSOM Alternative CC
IRLNews supports Indian Riverkeeper's Call to Action asking for public comment in favor of Lake Okeechobee System Operating Manual Alternative CC.
Please take this opportunity to change Lake O's management plan by letting the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers know that you support Alternative CC which will limit Lake O discharge to the St. Lucie River estuary and Fort Worth lagoon.
Here is a sample email to assist you in supporting LOSOM Alternative CC. Simply, copy and paste this text into your email application, add your contact info, and send to LakeOComments@usace.army.mil before June 29, 2021.
Dear Sirs,
I am writing as an informed Florida resident living on the Indian River Lagoon to URGE THE CORPS IN THE STRONGEST TERMS to ADOPT ALTERNATIVE CC for the new LOSOM Plan.
We have seen the annual destruction caused on both the East and West Coast when millions of gallons of contaminated and algae laden water is released from Lake O. We also know that the dramatic diminishment of water flowing South through the Everglades has caused untold damage there as well.
These problems will only increase with the coming Climate Change impacts.
It is time now for the Army Corps to commit to Option CC, to:
- Enhance ecology and protect human health by greatly reducing flows to the St. Lucie River and Lake Worth Lagoon estuaries.
- Enhance Caloosahatchee ecology by providing low and optimal flows and reducing extreme and high flow >6500 cfs
- Enhance ecology of St. Lucie Estuary by reducing Lake O releases
- Enhance Everglades ecology by providing more freshwater South, and
- Improve water supply performance as compared to the NO Action plan.
Sincerely,
Social Media Support
Sample Text:
We have an opportunity to put an end to the destruction of the Saint Lucie River and lower Indian River Lagoon caused by nutrient and algae laden discharges from Lake Okeechobee.
Your voice and direct input can determine how the Army Corps of Engineers (USACOE) manages Lake Okeechobee discharges from this point forward.
Help put an end to harmful Lake Okeechobee discharges that pollute and poison our estuaries, and threaten your family's health.
Show your support of Lake Okeechobee System Operating Manual Alternative CC with an email to LakeOComments@usace.army.mil before June 29th.
Sample Email: LOSOM_Alternative_CC_Sample_Email.
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