A new study commissioned by the Florida Senate has been released from the University of Florida. “Options to Reduce High Volume Freshwater Flows to the St. Lucie and Caloosahatchee Estuaries and Move More Water from Lake Okeechobee to the Southern Everglades,” is a scientific review of the options for water storage in the Everglades.

The findings indicate that in addition to Everglades restoration projects underway, more water storage options are needed both north and south of Lake Okeechobee to prevent devastating water releases to the Caloosahatchee and St. Lucie estuaries. The State of Florida’s option to purchase land in the Everglades Agricultural Area is specifically referenced.

“It is clear that the study recognizes the significant, but time-limited, opportunity to purchase 46,800 acres of land in the Everglades Agricultural Area,” said Eric Draper, Audubon Florida Executive Director. “Audubon agrees with the study’s authors that given the limited opportunity and uncertainty of future options, the State should consider the option. Audubon calls on the South Florida Water Management District to obtain the needed appraisals for this land.”

The report also reinforces concerns with CS/HB 7003, which attempts to adopt the current version of the Lake Okeechobee Basin Management Action Plan (BMAP), as the only clean-up plan for Lake Okeechobee. As the report notes, the BMAPs will not achieve the total maximum daily loads and new, verifiable best management practices are needed.