Corps to host public meetings on dike rehabilitation plan

Published Jan. 15, 2016

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Jacksonville District, will host three meetings in January for members of the public to learn more about a draft rehabilitation report for Herbert Hoover Dike.

The Corps will conduct the meetings in communities around Lake Okeechobee to discuss a draft summary of a dam safety modification report and an associated environmental impact statement.  The Corps released the report on December 24 for public review and comment.  The draft document contains alternative solutions that outline a path forward toward completing ongoing rehabilitation of the dike. 

“The report represents the culmination of a three-year effort that resulted in the most comprehensive look ever at the risk posed by the dike,” said Tim Willadsen, Herbert Hoover Dike Rehabilitation Project Manager. “We look forward to talking about this plan with the people living and working around the lake and hearing their thoughts on these proposed solutions.”

The Corps will conduct the meetings in the following locations in around the lake:
• Jan. 26—Canal Point Community Center, 12860 US Hwy. 441, Canal Point, Fla.
• Jan. 27—Clewiston High School, 1501 South Francisco St., Clewiston, Fla.
• Jan. 28—South Fla. Water Mgt. Dist. Okeechobee Service Center, 3800 NW 16th Blvd. Okeechobee, Fla.

The meetings in Canal Point and Clewiston will begin with an open house at 6 p.m. followed by a presentation at 7 p.m.  The meeting in Okeechobee will begin with an open house at 5 p.m. followed by a presentation at 6 p.m.  After the presentation at each meeting, attendees will have an opportunity to comment on the proposed plans. 

A copy of the draft dam safety modification report summary and associated draft environmental impact statement is available at the following website: http://bit.ly/1NEh0UV.  Physical copies of the documents are available at these locations:

Glades County Library
201 Riverside Drive
Moore Haven, Fla.

Hendry County Barron Library
461 North Main Street
LaBelle, Fla. 

Hendry County Harry T Vaughn Library
120 West Osceola Avenue
Clewiston, Fla. 

Martin County Elisabeth Lahti Library
15200 SW Adams Avenue
Indiantown, Fla.

Martin County Blake Library
2351 SE Monterey Road
Stuart, Fla. 

Okeechobee County Public Library
206 SW 16th Street
Okeechobee, Fla.

Palm Beach County Library
Main Branch
3650 Summit Blvd.
West Palm Beach, Fla. 

Palm Beach County Library
Belle Glade Branch
725 NW 4th Street
Belle Glade, Fla.

Palm Beach County Library
Loula V. York Branch
525 Bacom Point Road
Pahokee, Fla. 

Palm Beach County Library
Clarence E. Anthony Branch
375 SW 2nd Avenue
South Bay, Fla.

Each of the public meetings will include a period during which attendees can make verbal comments on the draft report. However, no court reporter will be present, so the Corps is encouraging people to submit written comments.  The Corps will make comment cards available at each of the public meetings.  Additionally, the Corps will accept comments until Feb. 23, 2016 through its Environmental Branch at the Corps’ Jacksonville District office:
• Forward email comments to HHDEnvironment@usace.army.mil.
• Forward written comments to the following mailing address:
        Stacie Auvenshine
        U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Jacksonville District 
        P.O. Box 4970
        Jacksonville, FL  32232-0019

For more information on the Herbert Hoover Dike project, visit the Jacksonville District website at http://www.saj.usace.army.mil/Missions/CivilWorks/LakeOkeechobee/HerbertHooverDike.aspx

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Contact
John Campbell
904-232-1004
john.h.campbell@usace.army.mil

Release no. 16-004