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About AFLO
We are a community fishing group dedicated to protecting Lake Okeechobee. We are anglers (professional and recreational), marina owners, boat owners, and fishing guides. After recognizing that a voice for Lake Okeechobee’s health and restoration was desperately needed, AFLO was founded with the mission of advocating for the Lake O region by focusing on solutions to stop large influxes of water and nutrients from entering the lake. We want to see Lake Okeechobee cared for, the estuary crisis fixed, spraying reduced and it’s going to take science and a long-term effort in the halls of Tallahassee and Washington to ensure that becomes a priority.
With data showing that 95% of the water flowing into Lake O comes from the north, we believe that the answer to our water quality issues lies at the lake’s source. We also want to look for alternatives to spraying on the lake and explore methods like mechanical harvesting. If we slow the flow of water coming into the lake during wet years and look for options other than spraying, we believe we can help save Lake Okeechobee and prevent discharges from impacting coastal communities like Ft. Myers and Stuart.
We support science-based solutions that will bring on additional storage and treatment at the SOURCE of Lake Okeechobee, to the north. In 2015, The University of Florida Water Institute conducted a study, which includes additional storage north of the lake, combinations of aquifer storage recovery wells, deep storage reservoirs, shallow storage impoundments, and dispersed water management. Additionally, a SFWMD analysis estimates the completion of storage and treatment north of Lake Okeechobee would help achieve an “80% reduction in discharge events from Lake Okeechobee” when combined with other planned projects.
