2019-02 Lake Okeechobee Water LevelsRESOLUTION NO. 2019-02
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF OKEECHOBEE, FLORIDA; ON THE RE-
EVALUATION OF LAKE OKEECHOBEE OPERATIONS BY THE U.S.
ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS PURSUANT TO THE NATIONAL
ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY ACT ASSESSMENT FOR THE LAKE
OKEECHOBEE SYSTEM OF'ERATING MANUAL; PROVIDING FOR
CONFLICT; PROVIDING FOR SEVERABILITY; PROVIDING FOR AN
EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS, Lake Okeechobee is the liquid heart of an integrated regional water
management system and is essential and interconnected to communities,
businesses, public water supply utilities and ecosystems throughout Okeechobee
County; and
WHEREAS, Lake Okeechobee is an integral component of the Comprehensive Everglades
Restoration Plan (CERP) and is critical to meeting the environmental restos}ion and
water supply needs of South Florida; and
WHEREAS, Lake Okeechobee is essential to protecting the region's water supply
infrastructure from saltwater intrusion by providing a source of freshwater to prevent
the migration of saltwater into coastal wellfields; and
WHEREAS, Lake Okeechobee's authorized project purposes include flood control, water
supply, recreation, navigation, environmental effects to fish and wildlife, and cultural
and recreational sources; and
WHEREAS, Section 1106 of the 2018 Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) directs
the Secretary of the Army to expedite completion of the Lake Okeechobee regulation
schedule to coincide with completion of the Herbert Hoover Dike project, and may
include all relevant aspects of the CERP; and
WHEREAS, in January 2019, Okeechobee County received notice from the U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers (Corps) that, in accordance with Section 1106 of the 2018
WRDA, the Corps is beginning preparation of a National Environmental Policy Act
(NEPA) assessment for the Lake Okeechobee System Operations Manual (LOSOM),
which is to re-evaluate and define operations for the Lake Okeechobee regulation
schedule that takes into account nearly complete additional infrastructure which will
soon be operational components of the water management system; and
WHEREAS, rehabilitation activities on Lake Okeechobee's Herbert Hoover Dike by the
Corps began in 2001 and are expected to be complete by 2022; and
WHEREAS, the Lake Okeechobee Regulation Schedule for 2008 (LORS08) was
implemented as an interim measure to protect the public from the risk of catastrophic
failure of the Herbert Hoover Dike; and
WHEREAS, the City of Okeechobee wishes to provide direction as to which measures that
the City of Okeechobee supports and opposes in the Lake Okeechobee operations
re-evaluation process and the resultant LOSOM.
NOW, THEREFORE, be it resolved before the City Council for the City of Okeechobee,
Florida; that the City presented at a duly advertised public meeting; and passed by
majority vote of the City Council; and properly executed by the Mayor or designee, as
Chief Presiding Officer for the City:
SECTION 1. The City hereby supports the following as it relates to the re-evaluation of Lake
Okeechobee operations by the Corps:
1. A science -based evaluation that is transparent and acknowledges and balances all
congressionally -authorized purposes of Lake Okeechobee operations; and
2. Performance measures that appropriately and accurately characterize impacts to all
communities as it relates to water supply, the environment, and the economy; and
RESOLUTION No. 2019-02 PAGE 1 OF 2
3. The incorporation of data and methods to ensure proposed operations improve lake
ecology, protect water supplies and are robust and resilient to expected climatic
variability; and
4. The implementation of water storage and water quality treatment projects in Lake
Okeechobee tributary basins north of the Lake; and
5. Lake Okeechobee operations that reduce flood risk and flood insurance premiums for
residents and businesses in the Glades communities located southeast of Lake
Okeechobee; and
6. Lake Okeechobee operations that assist in achieving restoration flows and 3ther key
ecosystem goals, including performance measure developed by CERP's Restoration
Coordination and Verification (RECOVER) program; and
7. The avoidance and/or minimization of Lake Okeechobee discharges to the Lake
Worth Lagoon, Loxahatchee River, Indian River Lagoon, St. Lucie Canal, and
Caloosahatchee River; and
8. Reductions in water use restrictions and cutbacks on public water utilities and
existing permitted users, as comparted to those which occur under LORS08.
SECTION 2. That the City opposes the following as it relates to the re-evaluation of Lake
Okeechobee operations by the Corps:
1. Drastically lowering Lake Okeechobee to levels not supported by sound science (e.g.
10.5 feet) which would induce drought conditions, impact the ability to deliver water to
critical ecosystems, and result in significant environmental damage; and
2. Lake Okeechobee operations that result in increased risk of saltwater intrusion into
coastal wellfields which would cause irreversible damage to freshwater supplies,
affect the health and safety of residents, and result in the need for massive
alternative water supply infrastructure investments; and
3. Lake Okeechobee operations that result in restrictions on recreational and
commercial fishing, which would impact small businesses such as marinas, fishing
guide services and the hospitality industry.
SECTION 3. All Resolutions or parts of Resolutions in conflict herewith are hereby
repealed.
SECTION 4. If any section, subsection, sentence, clause, phrase or portion of this
Resolution, or application hereof, is for any reason held invalid or unconstitutional by any
court of competent jurisdiction, such portion or provision and such holding shall not affect
the validity of the remaining portions or applications here.
SECTION 5. This Resolution shall take effect immediately upon its adoption.
INTRODUCED AND ADOPTED in Regular Session this 2nd day of April, 2019.
ATTEST: c
Lane Gamiotea, Crn� C,, City Clerk
REVIEWED FOR LEGAL SUFFICIENCY:
\
John R. Cook, City Attorney
RESOLUTION No. 2019-02 PAGE 2 OF 2
owling R. a .rd, J ., Mayor