After rejoicing over the start of construction of the first steps of the Everglades Agricultural Area Reservoir (EAA), it appears the project has hit a potential roadblock. Below are links to a series of recent articles about the potential delay of at least one year, stemming from a “New Start” designation for the reservoir.
From Treasure Coast Newspapers, 5/13/2020:
When the EAA Reservoir is completed, discharges into Lake Okeechobee could be significantly reduced.
“Who’s right and who’s wrong in a $130 million budget mystery remains to be seen.
The Army Corps of Engineers says the money is in the budget where it’s supposed to be, but the South Florida Water Management District, U.S. Rep. Brian Mast and others who monitor environmental restoration projects insist it’s not.
They claim the Army Corps moved money to build the Everglades Agricultural Area Reservoir Project, which is designed to curb Lake Okeechobee discharges to the St. Lucie and Caloosahatchee rivers, to an unrelated stormwater project in St. Lucie County.
They also claim the shift will delay completion of the reservoir at least a year.”
Read more…
Did Army Corps Shift Funding for Reservoir?
Army Corps won’t reclassify Lake Okeechobee reservoir; could delay construction by a year
From Chauncey Goss, Chairman of the South Florida Water Management District:
“I read Matt Caldwell’s op-ed earlier this week and found myself disappointed that a man I respect as intelligent and thoughtful felt it necessary to resort to not one, but two, ad hominem attacks to help make his point. It has always been my understanding that ad hominem attacks should be reserved for a time when you are out of arguments and have nothing left in the arsenal but to impugn the motives of the person arguing the contrary point of view.”
Read more…
Guest opinion: Ongoing water debate needs to be about the issues, not personalities