Completion of Herbert Hoover Dam brings peace to area residents, Lake Okeechobee fishermen fear

CLWISTON, Florida. Officials gathered on the shores of Lake Okeechobee in Clewiston and watched what was happening.

Army Corps of Engineers led ribbon cutting ceremony to mark the completion of the restoration of the Herbert Hoover Dam about three years ahead of schedule, at a cost of $1.5 billion in federal and state money.

“Safety is our No. 1 priority,” said Colonel Jamie Booth, chief of the Army Corps of Engineers. “The purpose of the project is to protect human life.”

An engineer once said that ramming concrete into an old earthen dam was like filling a tooth.

SPECIAL COATING: Paradise Protection

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In this case, it’s fifty-six miles that surround Lake Okeechobee with new water control systems.

Hendry County Commissioner Emma Bird and her neighbors will now sleep better.

“We are so grateful to be in this zone, knowing that at night when we rest, we don’t have to worry about getting flooded,” Byrd said.

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Environmentalists see a new day for the Everglades to recover. A large lake that can safely hold more water and also send more of that water south into the Everglades.

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“It’s storing, treating, and sending water south, not east and west – south, down to the Everglades, down to the Florida Keys,” said Everglades Foundation CEO Eric Eikenberg.

They may have gathered under one big tent on Wednesday, but differences remain.

Fishermen claim that the fishery in the lake has already been destroyed due to too much water being stored in the lake. They don’t want a stronger dam to cause more water to accumulate.

“It destroys all underwater vegetation,” said professional angler Scott Martin. “Perches and Croppies no longer have a place to spawn.”

This is a big step forward in terms of security, but also a reminder of upcoming water challenges.