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

Abstract

This report provides a review of relevant plans, projects and related technical documents as part of a broader effort to evaluate options to move more fresh water from Lake Okeechobee to the Everglades. The review was stimulated, in large part, by concern that recent regulatory releases of fresh water from Lake Okeechobee to the St. Lucie and Caloosahatchee estuaries have resulted in substantial negative ecological and economic impacts. Findings and opinions expressed herein are the collective work of a team of faculty affiliated with the University of Florida Water Institute and are based solely on pre-existing information.

Keywords: Everglades, Lake Okeechobee, freshwater, St. Lucie Estuary, Caloosahatchee Estuary, Everglades Protection Area