News Cast for March 20th:
The Coalition for responsible management of Lake Okeechobee heard differences of opinion on whether the levels of Lake Okeechobee will get low enough this spring.
They want to spur on submerged vegetation growth in the lake to help clean up the water.
The goal is 90 days at 12 feet or less or 60 days at 11.5 feet or lower.
The lake stood at 13.1 feet this morning.
Commissioner Bill McDaniel of Charlotte County said a couple of months ago he called the legacy sediment sludge.
“The removal of this legacy sediment in some form or fashion is important. I agree with you that this board is a board of action.”
The Environmental Protection Agency years ago ruled the muck and sediment can’t be removed from the lake and taken to other locations.
Billy Locker fishes Lake Okeechobee regularly and said fishing in the river is great but the lake is a mess.
“From Okee-Tantie to Worm Cove shallow water speck fishing is done. He called it a dirty, soupy mess.”
Lawrence Glenn with the SFMWD predicted the lake will reach 12 feet.
“Our trajectory is leading to a beneficial recovery thing for Lake Okeechobee, that’s a good thing. We have been helped out a lot by Mother Nature.”
He said any time spend at below 12 feet will be a benefit.
Okeechobee Commissioner David Hazellief told the group that the eight-year effort to get a Bass Pro project in Okeechobee is nearing fruition. He predicted the project will be approved by summer time.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission planned to burn Moore Haven Marsh on the west side of Lake Okeechobee this week, wind permitting.
The burn area would include 28,000 acres that includes 700 acres of cattails.
They plan to minimize the smoke impacts to nearby towns and roads as much as possible.
Warrants were served against a Wauchula man on charges of cocaine trafficking in Basinger.
25-year-old Sergio Juarez allegedly sold $1,700 of cocaine, (about two ounces) on June 25, 2024 in the area of 20350 highway 98 north, deputies said.
He was held on $100,000 bond.