Originally published on Gulf Coast News by Evan Dean on February 18, 2026
The C-43 is designed to capture runoff and water releases from Lake Okeechobee during the rainy season, clean the water while it’s being stored and then release it down the Caloosahatchee River during the dry season.
When it will actually accomplish all that is not yet clear.
‘IT’S EMPTY’: RESERVOIR NOT FULLY OPERATIONAL YET
“Just because it’s done being built doesn’t mean it’s open and functioning,” Matt DePaolis told Gulf Coast News.
“It’s empty, and it’s not doing us much good right now,” Joe Cavanaugh said.
Cavanaugh is the Calusa Waterkeeper. Drone footage captured by Gulf Coast News confirmed what he pointed out: there is not much water in the reservoir right now.
“It’s not up and running yet, so we don’t know what the benefits are going to be,” Cavanaugh said.
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