JACKSONVILLE — The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Jacksonville District invites Project Delivery Team members, stakeholders, partners, and members of the public to attend a virtual Project Delivery Team (PDT) Meeting for the Lake Okeechobee System Operating Manual (LOSOM) Final Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) on Tuesday, June 18, 2024, from 1: p.m. to 3 p.m..

As part of the ongoing review of the LOSOM Final EIS, conducted in accordance with the National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA), the Jacksonville District is holding this meeting to review the Final EIS and discuss changes based on comments received from the review of the Draft EIS. In the spirit of continued open communication that has been the hallmark of the LOSOM process, the team will review the comments received and how those comments shaped edits to clarify and enhance the detail in the EIS and the associated water control plan.

LOSOM is an updated water control plan for Lake Okeechobee. The regulation schedule is a compilation of operating criteria, guidelines, and figures that govern the quantity, timing, and duration of releases out of the lake. The regulation schedule establishes the agency’s operational strategy to balance the congressionally authorized project purposes for flood risk management, water supply, enhancement of fish and wildlife, navigation, and recreation. Implementation of this regulation schedule corresponds with the completion of the Herbert Hoover Dike (HHD) rehabilitation and considers completed or nearly completed Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan projects. LOSOM is intended to replace the current Lake Okeechobee Regulation Schedule, known as the 2008 LORS (LORS08). The Final EIS evaluates an array of alternative Lake Okeechobee regulation schedules and describes and compares their potential environmental effects, including consideration of comments from public and agency review.

Please join the LOSOM Final EIS PDT and Stakeholder engagement virtual meeting on Tuesday, June 18, 2024, from 1 to 3 p.m.

Details:

The Final EIS is available for your review on the Jacksonville District’s Environmental planning website:

https://www.saj.usace.army.mil/About/Divisions-Offices/Planning/Environmental-Branch/Environmental-Documents/

Virtual meeting Instructions:

• Unless you are calling in only and will not be viewing the virtual meeting, please sign in on the virtual meeting website first and, when prompted, select the audio connection “Call Me” option. This will allow the meeting to call you directly and may operate better than if you opt to dial in.
• At the beginning of the meeting, please sign in via chat and include your first and last name, agency or group affiliation if applicable, and email. PDT members should also include the PDT designation.
• Please mute your phone unless you are speaking, and do not put the call on hold.
• PDT members should provide their full name and the agency or group that they represent when speaking.
• Members of the public will have an opportunity to provide comments during the specified public comment periods.

LOSOM PDT Meeting

Tuesday, June 18, 2024, from 1 to 3 p.m.

Webex Login: https://usace1.webex.com/usace1/j.php?MTID=mb8343fc95c30bc30ba7ac4682f6fec9e

Meeting Number: 2831 528 8387

Call-in toll-free number: +1-844-800-2712 US Toll Free

Call-in number (ATT Audio): +1-669-234-1177 US Toll

Access Code: 2831 528 8387