OKEECHOBEE -- The South Florida Water Management District will host  a public meeting on the Lower Kissimmee Basin Stormwater Treatment and Recreation Area Project to show the project plan and discuss the timing of construction and recreational features. 

The in-person public meeting will be held on Thursday, Nov. 5 at 6 p.m. at Indian River State College, Dixon-Hendry Campus located at 2229 NW Ninth Ave. in Okeechobee in Room B-111. 

An Open House will immediately follow the meeting and technical staff from the South Florida Water Management District will be available to answer questions about the project. 

For more information, please contact Libby Pigman via phone at 863-462-5260 Ext. 3010 or via email at epigman@sfwmd.gov. 

The Lower Kissimmee Basin Stormwater Treatment and Recreation Area Project will use wetland systems to capture and clean water from priority areas of the Lake Okeechobee watershed prior to it flowing into Lake Okeechobee. When completed, it will be one of the largest water quality projects north of Lake Okeechobee and will significantly reduce nutrient pollution loads into the lake while maintaining flood protection for the surrounding communities. 

The 4,800-acre project is located along the Kissimmee River approximately three miles upstream from Lake Okeechobee and will improve water quality from areas that consistently have some of the highest phosphorus concentrations and loads in the Lake Okeechobee watershed.

We look forward to your participation and strongly encourage your attendance