Gov. Rick Scott announced Wednesday the acceleration of overdue repairs to the Herbert Hoover Dike surrounding Lake Okeechobee.
Scott championed state funding of $100 million for these repairs during the last two legislative sessions.
Said Scott, “For years, I have fought for repairs to the federally operated Herbert Hoover Dike and we have shown that Florida will stop at nothing to ensure the communities and environment surrounding the dike are fully protected.
"These communities can no longer wait for Congress, and today, I am proud to announce that we’ve entered into an agreement with the Army Corps that jump starts the critical repairs we have been working toward. While there is still more to be done, today’s news is great for Florida. Continuing to make real progress in repairing the Dike is critical not just for the safety of South Florida residents, but also for the health of the greater Everglades system and Florida’s coastal estuaries.”
The Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Corps) have reached an agreement on a $50 million state investment to fully fund this phase of the Reach I Cutoff Wall Extension of the dike. This project will fortify the dike in a specific area near Belle Glade.
The state funding used to fully fund this phase of the Reach I Cutoff Wall Extension will allow the Corps to immediately focus their resources on accelerating repairs to other critical portions of the dike.
The governor on Wednesday also directed the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to work with the Corps to identify how best to use the $50 million he signed into law for the next fiscal year to accelerate critical repairs. During Hurricane Irma, Governor Scott ordered the evacuation of surrounding communities because Lake Okeechobee had reached critical water levels.
Col. Jason Kirk, commander of Jacksonville District said, "This agreement is another important milestone in the federal-state effort that provides great value to the citizens of Florida and the nation. It allows us to fully fund a construction contract to install 6 miles of seepage barrier west of Belle Glade in Palm Beach County. We look forward to starting this work as soon as possible.
"The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has a longstanding partnership with Florida in our combined efforts to restore the Everglades," Kirk said. "State assistance to the vital rehabilitation of Lake Okeechobee's Herbert Hoover Dike is an extension of the restoration partnership.”
Florida Senate President Joe Negron said, “... This successful state and federal partnership has resulted in the federal government agreeing to expedite the timeline for repair of the Herbert Hoover Dike from 2025 to 2022, and today’s announcement is an important step toward meeting that deadline.”
Florida House Speaker Richard Corcoran said, “Today’s announcement is a testament to the governor’s leadership when it comes to the environmental health of Lake Okeechobee and of the surrounding communities. I applaud the hard work of DEO and look forward to seeing these needed repairs completed quickly.”
Last year, during the special legislative session, Scott fought for and secured $50 million in state funding to speed up repairs to the Herbert Hoover Dike, becoming the first Florida governor to invest state dollars to expedite repairs to this federal project. Together with next fiscal year’s funding, Florida has now committed an historic $100 million in state funding to ensure critical Herbert Hoover Dike repairs.
