Lake Okeechobee is a critical component in achieving environmental restoration, water supply, agriculture, tourism and recreation objectives in South Florida. The Lake is essential and interconnected to communities, businesses, public water supplies, and ecosystems. Palm Beach County residents, taxpayers and visitors depend on healthy and predictable lake levels to sustain a robust and diverse economy. As such, Lake Okeechobee operations are a high priority for the Palm Beach County Board of County Commissioners.
Palm Beach County SUPPORTS an open, transparent and inclusive public process to re-evaluate Lake Okeechobee operations. Palm Beach County is actively working with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on their re-evaluation of Lake operations, referred to as the Lake Okeechobee System Operating Manual or LOSOM.
Palm Beach County SUPPORTS efforts by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, the Florida Department of Agricultural and Consumer Services and the South Florida Water Management District to ensure future Lake Okeechobee operations are appropriately evaluated, maximize the protection of water supplies, minimize the potential for water use restrictions, avoid widespread damage to the economy and ecosystems such as Lake Okeechobee, the Lake Worth Lagoon and the Loxahatchee River and comply with state law.