North of Lake Okeechobee Storage Reservoir (LOCAR) Section 203 Study

May 2025

FACT SHEET

North of Lake Okeechobee Storage Reservoir (LOCAR) Section 203 Study
Construction (C)
Congressional Districts: XXX

1. DESCRIPTION

The North of Lake Okeechobee Storage Reservoir (Component A)—commonly referred to as LOCAR—is a newly authorized project under the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP), aimed at improving water management and ecosystem conditions in the Lake Okeechobee Watershed. Initiated by the South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) in 2023 under Section 203 of the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 1986, the project was developed in coordination with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Jacksonville District.

The project will construct an aboveground reservoir north of Lake Okeechobee with a storage capacity of approximately 200,000 acre-feet.  The reservoir will capture excess water during wet periods for use during dry conditions and to improve the timing and distribution of flows to the lake and surrounding ecosystems. This additional storage will reduce damaging discharges to the Northern Estuaries, lessen extreme lake stage fluctuations, and support the health of the lake’s littoral zone.

The North of Lake Okeechobee Storage Reservoir (Component A) addresses water resource needs identified in the Corps’ 1999 Central and Southern Florida Project Comprehensive Review Study (Yellow Book) and complements other regional reservoirs constructed to the east, south, and west of the lake.

The project was authorized by Congress in Section 1403 of the Water Resources Development Act of 2024 (Public Law 118-272) and is now eligible for federal implementation in partnership with the non-federal sponsor.

2. FUNDING

3. SPONSOR

South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD)
3301 Gun Club Road
West Palm Beach, Florida  33406

4. STATUS

The South Florida Water Management District initiated the feasibility study for the reservoir in 2023 under Section 203 of the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) of 1986. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Jacksonville District, concurrently prepared an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) in coordination with the study. Both the feasibility study and EIS were submitted to the Assistant Secretary of the Army for Civil Works on February 28, 2024. Following review and transmittal by the Secretary of the Army, the project was authorized by Congress in Section 1403 of the Water Resources Development Act of 2024 (Public Law 118-272). The law authorizes the project:

“…to be carried out by the Secretary in accordance with the review assessment of the feasibility study for such project, dated August 2024 and submitted by the Secretary under section 203(c) of the Water Resources Development Act of 1986 (33 U.S.C. 2231(c)), and subject to such modifications or conditions as the Secretary considers appropriate.”

• With authorization now in place, the project is eligible for federal implementation in partnership with the non-federal sponsor. Next steps include advancing the project into design and preconstruction planning, pending appropriations.