Dozens of scientists, environmental groups, elected officials and agency heads met online Tuesday to talk about recent changes to a still controversial plan to govern Lake Okeechobee releases.
Paul Gray, Audubon Florida’s director of science, offered a cautionary tale about becoming strictly wedded to policies that don’t necessarily make ecological sense.
He recalled a time when lake levels were sufficient so there was “zero chance” of having inadequate water supply stores, yet because of rigid policy dictates, “the Caloosahatchee had been cut off from all water.” Gray challenged the then-managers. “I could see they were very uncomfortable, but they wanted to follow their policies.” His takeaway: “Rationing natural systems could get policy makers into trouble in the future.”
Army Corps officers started off the meeting by taming expectations, saying a lake release schedule can’t solve all of South Florida’s mounting water issues.
“There’s only so much an operation schedule can do,” said Col. James Booth. “Ultimately the continued projects we put in the ground are going to meet a lot of expectations in South Florida. But a change to the schedule can make major improvements even if it doesn’t get everything we want immediately.”
The Army Corps calls the group the Project Development Team, or PDT, and its purpose is to act as a sounding board for Army Corps modelers, planners and decision-makers.
Continue Reading