By: Melissa Meeker, New- Press.com
As a Treasure Coast resident for more than 20 years, I have seen firsthand the damage caused by the discharges. While the recently approved Everglades reservoir bill may help alleviate them, the reservoir is far from a panacea and it’s important to set expectations about what it will accomplish.
Under the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP) approved in 2000, the reservoir south of Lake Okeechobee was one of several projects designed to increase the flow of water to the Everglades while providing adequate flood control, agricultural water supply, and nominal benefits to the estuaries. It was never the primary strategy for reducing discharges…