The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is unveiling a regulatory plan to limit discharges into Lake Okeechobee

>> OR $120 for a family pass. THE ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS JUST RELEASED ITS FINAL PLAN FOR MANAGING THE CURRENT PLAN IN EFFECT SINCE 2008. THE PLAN IS INDEPENDENT FOR OUR SOUTH FRIDID WATERS. WHAT THEY DECIDE CAN AFFECT THE AMOUNT OF NUTRIENT-RICH WATER AND THE AMOUNT OF ALGAE IS DECREASING. TO CALOOSAHATCHEE AND THE RIGHT TO OUR CHANNELS. NBC TWO’S MUHAMMAD CALI IS LOCAL TO NORTH FORT MYERS TODAY, LEARNING ARMY CORPS STRATEGY. >> THE AMOUNT OF WATER RELEASED FROM THE LAKE DOWN CALOOSAHATCHEE WILL DEPEND ON THE SEASON. ARE WE IN A RAINY SEASON OR A DRY SEASON LIKE WE WERE JUST LEAVING? THIS PLAN WILL HELP YOU DEVELOP A STRATEGY TO REGULATE THESE LEVELS. YOUR ROUTE. >> THIS PROCESS HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR OVER 4 YEARS. WE ARE HAPPY THAT WE ARE CLOSERING TO THE FINISH TODAY. THE ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS HAS RELEASED ITS PLAN TO REPLACE THE CURRENT REGULATION SCHEDULE FOR LAKE OKEECHOBEE. CAPTAIN CHRIS WHITMAN, CO-FOUNDER OF CAPTAINS FOR CLEAN WATER, SAYS HIS TEAM HAS BEEN WAITING FOR THIS A LONG TIME. SO THIS NEW PLAN WILL PROVIDE REDUCED LANDINGS OF UP TO 37% REDUCTION IN HARMFUL LANDINGS TO OUR COAST. >> AND MUCH MORE FAVORABLE FLOWS SOUTH TO THE EVERGLADES, GLOBES, LAKE OKEECHOBEE SYSTEM, ALSO KNOWN AS LOWSOME. >> IS TO RELEASE THE RIGHT AMOUNT OF WATER AT THE RIGHT TIME. IT IS MEANT TO IMPROVE WATER SUPPLY AND IMPROVE FISH AND WILD ANIMALS HABITATS THROUGH THE ENTIRE REGION. THE PEOPLE I TALK TO SAY THAT’S WHY THEY LIVE HERE. TOURISM Will Collapse. >> THEY SAY DON’T SWIMM. SO DON’T COME JUST WANTING TO SPLAY IN THE WATER AND HAVE FUN. AND SO I REALLY FEEL THAT THE DISPLAY MAY NOT SOLVE ALL THE PROBLEMS IMMEDIATELY. >> BUT WHITMAN BELIEVES THIS IS A STEP IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. DO I THINK LOW TOTAL IS THE RIGHT DECISION? AND YES. I THINK IT WILL NOT BE THE GOLDEN BALL. BUT THIS WILL PROVIDE A SIGNIFICANT FUND TO HELP REDUCING THESE LARGE, HARMFUL DISCHARGES TO OUR COAST. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS SAYS THE REVIEW PERIOD WILL LAST 30 DAYS. >> TODAY WAS LOCAL NORTH SHORE ERA

On Friday, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers released a plan to replace the current regulation schedule for Lake Okeechobee. Captain Chris Wittman, co-founder of Captains for Clean Water, said his team has been waiting for this for a long time. “Under this new plan, discharges will be reduced to 37% for harmful discharges to our coast, with much more favorable flows south to the Everglades,” Wittman said. The purpose of the Lake Okeechobee System Operation Manual, also known as LOSOM, is to release the right amount of water at the right time. This is expected to improve water supplies and improve fish and wildlife habitats throughout the region. People NBC2 spoke to said that’s why they live here. “Tourism will fail, they’ll say, ‘No, I can’t swim, why do you all come here?'” said Joshua Stephen-Pierce, a Fort Myers resident. This plan may not solve all the problems at once, but Wittman believes it will. a step in the right direction. “Do I think LOSOM is the right decision? That’s what he said. “It will not be a silver bullet, but it will provide significant relief and reduction of these serious, harmful discharges to our coastline.” The Army Corps of Engineers said the review period would be 30 days.

NORTH FORT MYERS, Fla. —

“This new plan will reduce harmful discharges to our coast by up to 37% and provide significantly more favorable flows south to the Everglades,” Wittman said.

The purpose of the Lake Okeechobee System Operation Manual, also known as LOSOM, is to release the right amount of water at the right time. This is expected to improve water supplies and improve fish and wildlife habitats throughout the region. The NBC2 people we talked to said that’s why they live here.

“Tourism will go down, they’ll say, ‘No, I can’t swim, why do you all come here?'” said Joshua Stephen-Pierce, a Fort Myers resident.

This plan may not solve all the problems right away, but Wittman believes it is a step in the right direction.

“Do I think LOSOM is the right decision? That’s what he said. “It won’t be a silver bullet, but it will provide significant relief and a reduction in these large, harmful discharges to our coastline.”

The Army Corps of Engineers said the review period would be 30 days.