05/12/2026
Okeechobee is showing some REAL signs of recovery..but beware!
A huge thank you to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, South Florida Water Management District, FWC, Sugar Farmers, ranchers, local communities, and all of the stakeholders who have made difficult decisions, unwavering support and sacrifices over the last 24 months to help give the lake a chance to heal.
Because of those efforts, we are seeing SAV (submerged aquatic vegetation) rebound, hard bottom areas returning, and healthier habitat developing around the littoral zones of the lake.
But now comes the challenge.
With a potential SUPER El Niño rainy season ahead, we must be extremely careful not to lose all of the progress we’ve made..because we still a very long way to go to gain back what we really need. I estimate we have about 5,000 acres of SAV back which is far from the 50,000 we used to have and need back.
If the lake rises too fast, too high, and stays above its natural ecological range too long, we risk destroying the SAV and habitat that the lake desperately needs to function as a healthy filter for the Everglades system.
We must:
• Slow the flow into the lake
• Protect the SAV and littoral habitat
• Manage lake levels with ecology as the #1 priority
• Make difficult discharge decisions when needed to protect the habitat
• Complete the ASR Wells for water storage
• Focus on north of the lake solutions
And we also have to rethink invasive plant management.
We cannot continue relying so heavily on chemical spraying while trying to restore the lake’s natural ecosystem. It’s time to invest more into mechanical harvesting and smarter long-term solutions that remove invasive plants while protecting native habitat.
We’ve all sacrificed to help this lake recover.
Now we have to protect the gains.
Conservation Everglades BassFishing
