The new Everglades strategy marks a “cultural shift” for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers: rather than focusing primarily on flood control, the new plan seeks to balance the needs of the entire watershed, including limiting the spread of toxic algae.

The 730-square-mile Lake Okeechobee lies at the heart of the Florida Everglades. For decades, the watershed has been under threat, but an ambitious $21 billion federal and restoration effort seeks to change that, including a new management plan. Amy Green reports for Inside Climate News that a new plan, called the Lake Okeechobee System Operating Manual, was implemented earlier this month, and with it, a significant change in approach. Tim Gysan, LOSOM project manager for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers told Green that, following a recent restoration of the 143-mile earthen dike around the lake, “the plan is designed to more equitably balance the needs of the watershed and stakeholders tied to it, rather than prioritizing flood control above all else.”
One particular concern is toxic algae, which has been a problem for Lake Okeechobee over the last several years and, when water is discharged during times of high water, the surrounding estuaries. “The noxious blooms have choked rivers, sullied beaches, sickened Floridians and left wildlife belly-up,” Green reports. With the warm temperatures brought by climate change, that problem is only expected to get worse. “Now that a $1.8 billion rehabilitation of the dike is complete, the Army Corps will have more flexibility to hold more water in the lake, reducing the harmful discharges.”
FULL STORY: New Lake Okeechobee Plan Aims for More Water for the Everglades, Less Toxic Algae

Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program
Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker
A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

Canada vs. Kamala: Whose Liberal Housing Platform Comes Out on Top?
As Canada votes for a new Prime Minister, what can America learn from the leading liberal candidate of its neighbor to the north?

Washington State’s Parking Reform Law Could Unlock ‘Countless’ Acres for New Housing
A law that limits how much parking cities can require for residential amd commercial developments could lead to a construction boom.

Wildlife Rebounds After the Eaton Fire
Following the devastation of the Eaton Fire, the return of wildlife and the regrowth of native plants are offering powerful signs of resilience and renewal.

LA to Replace Inglewood Light Rail Project With Bus Shuttles
LA Metro says the change is in response to community engagement and that the new design will be ready before the 2028 Olympic Games.
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