Who is paying for Lake Okeechobee Restoration?
The Florida Legislature in 2007 expanded the Lake Okeechobee Protection Act to include protection and restoration of the Lake Okeechobee Watershed and the Caloosahatchee and St. Lucie estuaries. Through the Northern Everglades and Estuaries Protection Program, Florida will set aside land, construct treatment wetlands and identify the water storage areas needed to improve the quality, timing and distribution of water flowing into Lake Okeechobee and the St. Lucie and Caloosahatchee estuaries. Through fiscal year 2010 and prior appropriations, Florida has invested $221 million for Lake Okeechobee restoration.
The Florida Legislature in 2007 expanded the Lake Okeechobee Protection Act to include protection and restoration of the Lake Okeechobee Watershed and the Caloosahatchee and St. Lucie estuaries. Through the Northern Everglades and Estuaries Protection Program, Florida will set aside land, construct treatment wetlands and identify the water storage areas needed to improve the quality, timing and distribution of water flowing into Lake Okeechobee and the St. Lucie and Caloosahatchee estuaries. The state has already committed $250 million to the Northern Everglades initiative, with a commitment of $100 million for future years.
