2019-09-10 Ex 0420cq-0q-10
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August 29, 2019
VLA EMAIL ONLY:
Major General Scott Spelhmon
Department of the Army
Headquarters, United States Arany Corps of Engineers
441 G Street, NW
Washington, DC 203140-1000
Colonel Andrew Kelly
Department of the Army
Jacksonville District, United States Army Corps of Engineers
701 San Marco Boulevard
Jacksonville, Florida 32207-8175
Re: 2019 Planned Deviation to the Lake Okeechobee's Water Control Plan
Dear Major General Spellmon and Colonel Kelly:
The undersigned represent a large cross-section of south Florida's communities and businesses
that rely on Lake Okeechobee. We have been engaged stakeholders in south Florida's water
management issues for decades. We understand the United States Army Corps of Engineers
(Corps) is seeking public comment on a planned deviation to the Lake's Water Control Plan. We
appreciate the opportunity to provide our concerns regarding this deviation.
Under the current Lake Okeechobee schedule (LORS 2008), Lake levels have already been
lowered to accommodate repairs to the Herbert Hoover Dike. In doing so. LORS 2008
diminished South Florida's water supply. Eleven years later, the Lake continues to be operated
under the interim LORS 2008 schedule and we continue to experience diminished water supply
for our communities and fittre growth. We are gravely concerned because the planned deviation
proposes to lower Lake Okeechobee water levels beyond the levels in LORS 2008, discharging
water to tide when LORS 2008 calls for conserving the water in the Lake. With the possibility
that these extreme low Lake operations may be in effect tntil 2022, the Lake's multiple
purposes, water supply, fish and wildlife, recreation, and navigation, will be compromised.
We support the Corps' desire to find solutions to our water quality challenges. algae is a
complex problem with multiple factors contributing to blooms in Florida and the U.S. But
lowering the Lake in the dry season, as the deviation proposes, will not solve our algae problem,
but can harm our communities fi-om lack of water. South Florida has experienced the severe
Major General Scott Spellmon
Colonel Andrew Kelly
August 29. 2019
Page 2
economic and environmental consequences that have resulted from past droughts caused when
the Lake was dropped to low levels. We urge you to reconsider this deviation - the negative
effects are many and the benefits are questionable.
With the ongoing development of a new Lake schedule (LOSOM), Florida has a unique
opportunity to build upon the rehabilitated Dike and equitably balance all of our water needs.
We all want to restore our natural resources and work to solve these water quality challenges.
Through the new Lake schedule, with input from all stakeholders, south Florida and the Corps
can develop a holistic. balanced Lake schedule desispred to serve the existing and firtue water
needs of all south Florida.
We appreciate the Corps' consideration of our comments and request that this letter be included
in the plarured deviation's administrative record.
Sincerely,
INSERT CONFIRMED SIGNATORIES
cc: Ryan Fischer, Principal Deputy to Assistant Secretary of the Array
Major General Diana Holland, Commander, South Atlantic Division
Lieutenant Colonel Jennifer A. Reynolds, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Lieutenant Colonel Todd Polk, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Melissa Nasuti, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
Drew Bartlett, South Florida Water Management District
Noah Valenstein, Florida Department of Environmental Protection